The Osino District Court has granted bail to 15 supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) accused of setting the Electoral Commission (EC) office in Asuboi, Ayensuano, ablaze. The incident occurred on December 10, 2024, during a protest by a group calling itself Ayensuano Concerned Youth, following the declaration of Ida Adwoa Asiedu as the MP-elect for the Ayensuano Constituency.
The suspects, who were arrested and charged with arson, were each granted bail of GH₵20,000 with one surety. They are scheduled to reappear in court on January 14, 2025. The bail was granted by His Worship Salifu Bugri Ayagiba, despite objections from the prosecution, which argued that investigations were ongoing and that the suspects could interfere with the process.
However, counsel for the accused assured the court that his clients were well-known in the community and would cooperate with legal proceedings. The court upheld the defence counsel’s plea and granted bail to the suspects.
The counsel for the accused expressed his satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating, “The police alleged that some of the NDC members had gone to demolish the EC office at Ayensuano, so we had to come to court to help them and by God’s grace, we have been able to secure bail for them. We will come back to the case on January 14, 2025.”
He also noted that the court had asked the suspects to report to the Kibi police commander to ensure their availability, and that each of the 15 suspects was granted bail of GH₵20,000.
The counsel emphasized that the accusations against his clients were just that, until evidence was presented. “These are all accusations, so the evidence is the only thing that shows they did what they are being accused of, until then it is just a mere accusation. If the police can gather evidence, fine, if not, the case will be rubbished.”
