Breman Asikuma (C/R), Jan 20, GNA - Five members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa district have appeared before the Breman Asikuma Magistrate Court for allegedly assaulting Mr Kwesi Dadzie, a member of the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA).

They are Yaw Benfo, porter, Kwame Atta, driver, Noah Kwame Boadu, Transport owner, Mohammed Alfar, driver and Kwame Antwi a driver. The suspects charged with assault, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of five million cedis each with one surety to reappear on February 1, 2005.

Chief Inspector Joseph A Nadutey told the Court presided over by Mr A A Aseidu that the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Assembly allocated a portion of the lorry park at Asikuma to PROTOA. He said the GPRTU did not take kindly it leading to a misunderstanding between the two organisations and the Assembly referred the matter to District Security Council (DISEC) for a solution to be found.

Chief Inspector Nadutey said on December 22, 2004, the District Assembly at its last sitting gave the go ahead to PROTOA to operate at the lorry park.

The Prosecution said on December 27, 2004 the executives of the PROTOA following the approval of the Assembly decided start operation at the lorry park.

He said on December 28, 2004 at about 8 o'clock in the morning PROTOA members were loading a vehicle to Agona Swedru, Mr Dadzie went for a bag of passenger.

All of sudden Yaw Benfo intercepted the bag.

The prosecution said that the other four accused persons joined the Yaw Benfo to attack and assaulted Mr Dadzie. He said a report was made to he Police who gave Mr Dadzie a medical form to go to the hospital. Before granting the accused persons bail, Mr Asiedu warned members of the two organisations to be law abiding until the case was disposed of, adding that the Court would not entertain violence at the lorry park.