Prosecution asked to pull the brakes on trial

Prosecution in the case of the six Police Officers, who were indicted by the Okudzetu Commission of Inquiry into the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium Disaster, on Wednesday told an Accra High Court that he had been instructed not to proceed with the case until he received further instructions.

The officers are Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr Koranteng Mintah, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Frank Awuah, ASP Faakyi Kumi, ASP B.B. Bakomora, ASP John Naami and ASP Frank Aryee.

Mr Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, said: "I have been instructed by the Director for Public Prosecution not to start any thing today until further instructions are received."

He, therefore, prayed the court to adjourn the case to March 12. The Court presided over by Mr Justice Yaw Apau, who obliged to the Prosecution's application, lamented over the number of adjournments in the case and asked how long the Police Officers were going to be held to ransom.

He noted that the Police Officers were currently on interdiction and only received half salary, adding their problems would be more compounded with the adjournments.

The Officers were on January 6 committed to stand trial at the High Court on February 3.

The Officers, who have been charged with manslaughter on their bill of indictment, have been admitted to 20 million cedis bail with two sureties each.

They are alleged to have been involved in the disturbances that resulted in the death of 126 soccer fans after a league match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

The fans died in a stampede that ensued after the Police fired tear gas into the stands to stop some of them from tearing plastic chairs from the stand and throwing them on to the field of play.

President John Agyekum Kufuor set up the Commission to investigate the incident, which is the worst sports disaster in Ghana's history.