Five NDC supporters in Odododiodoo charged with murder

Five supporters of the National Democratic Congress in the Odododiodoo constituency in Accra have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

The charges follow the death of two people in connection with violence in the area during the 7 December presidential and parliamentary elections.

The NDC has described the case as politically motivated and intended to intimidate the party’s supporters in the constituency.

The court also granted bail to certain NDC supporters over disturbances during the polls. The supporters, numbering about 28, are among roughly 52 people who were initially detained together with the MP for the constituency, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye.

They’re innocent

A research assistant to Vanderpuye, Sammy Laryea, told the media that the supporters standing trial are innocent.

“On the day of the election I think 52 of our men who had come to the party’s collation centre to submit their pink sheets – and, of course, others who were there to observe the process – were arrested by the police as a result of the unfortunate shooting by known hoodlums of the New Patriotic Party (NPP),” he said.

“But unfortunately, our people rather got arrested. We believe every single individual arrested, we managed to obtain bail for 48 of them, and later 28 of them appeared before the court today. And luckily they have been granted bail and will reappear on 3 February,” Laryea added.

“No member of our party was holding guns, nobody has fired a weapon, no member of the party was seen rioting. As it stands now, we believe every single individual arrested at the party collation centre is innocent.

“I can tell you on authority that those who were charged with the murder are innocent,” Laryea said.

Fred Dzakpata

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