Accra (Greater Accra) 21 May '99

An Accra circuit tribunal on Thursday ordered the Police to keep a 24-hour surveillance at Aplaku, a village in the Ga District where three persons died in a clash between two factions, in order to ensure peace.

It further ordered Police to assess and report to it on damage caused to property during the clash, which occurred on May 11.

The tribunal, chaired by Mr Charles Quist, gave the orders when he granted bail to 19 out of 22 persons charged with murder. They were granted 10 million cedis bail each, with two sureties to be justified, and are to re-appear on May 26.

The tribunal remanded in custody two of the remaining three - Otu Okurnor Sackey and Francis Tetteh Yartey, both farmers. It discharged the third, Francis Teye Padi, also a farmer.

Their pleas were not taken.

The tribunal rescinded a bench warrant it issued on May 13 for the arrest of Nii Kpakpo Allotey Bulley and Nii Quaye the second, both elders of Aplaku, who were alleged by defence to have fomented the crisis.

The decision of the tribunal followed an ex-parte motion filed by attorney for the two elders, Mr J.O. Amui, challenging the issuance of the warrant.

The motion was, however, not moved as Mr D.O. Lamptey, counsel for the accused persons, objected to it on the grounds that it should be on notice so that the defence could be heard too.

The tribunal upheld counsel's submissions and ruled that it must be on notice for all parties involved in the matter to be heard at the next adjourned date.

The case for the prosecution is that for sometime now, there have been disputes between the two factions, which led to a clash on May 11. Three persons died in the clash.

Initial Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons, the prosecution said.