Five members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Gushiegu who got into a fight with members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), leading to the death of three persons and burning of 23 houses in the area in 2008, have been put before an Accra Circuit Court.

Interestingly, all the accused persons are NPP members while no member of the other faction was arrested, raising questions about whether the trial was politically motivated.

In one case, Sandow Yebdow was charged with conspiracy and murder of Abubakari Ziblim, chief of Naga and sub-chief of Gushiegu, in a court presided over by Mrs. Patience Mill Tetteh, while his alleged accomplices, Kpalsogu, Abubakari Shikura aka Gmama, Bawa Andani and Imoro Salifu are all at large.

In a related case heard by the same judge, Abu Damba, a cattle dealer, Labaran Bawa, Labaran Salifu and Issifu Bawa, all farmers, were charged with conspiracy and causing unlawful damage for their alleged role in the burning of 23 houses and burning of three cars belonging to Alhaji Jamoni, Hamidu Zackaria and Abdul Rahaman Amidu.

They have been granted GH¢50,000 bail with two sureties while Yebdow has been remanded and both cases adjourned to May 11, 2010.

Presenting the facts of the case, DSP P.K. Frimpong told the court that on August 31, 2008, members of the NDC in Gushiegu went to a nearby village, Kpatiga, to erect their party flags.

He said some NPP members were also at the same place to mount a pavilion and while there, a misunderstanding ensued, leading to a violent clash.

According to him, both parties returned to Gushiegu and the fighting continued the next day which was September 1, 2008 and noted that both parties took the law into their own hands, as a result of which 23 houses were burnt by the cattle-dealer and three farmers.

Explaining further, he stated that some three persons were murdered including the sub-chief of Naga who was allegedly killed by Yebdow and his accomplices.

The police officer said investigations are continuing for the other culprits to be apprehended and that the case docket would be sent to the Attorney General's Department for advice.

Frank Davies, counsel for the accused persons, applied for bail in the murder trial and observed that one person could not have conspired to commit any such offence, but the trial judge declined.

On the charge of conspiracy and causing unlawful damage, he said only members of the NPP were arraigned. He said even though the facts were clear that it was members of both parties who were involved in the fight, only one side was grabbed while the other side had been let off the hook.

When the judge said she was not interested in party colors but the offence of the persons arraigned, Mr. Davies was emphatic that the persons on trial were NPP members in the area and prayed for bail for them, saying that the offence was not an unbailable one. The trial judge then granted the accused persons bail.

By Fidelia Achama