Five GPRTU Porters remanded for assault

Awutu-Bereku (C/R), Feb 23, GNA- The Awutu Bereku Magistrate's Court presided over by Mr J E Wilson on Monday remanded into prison custody, five porters of the Kasoa branch of Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) for assault.

They were alleged to have assaulted Mr Mohammed Yahaya, a member of the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) at Kasoa. Their pleas were not taken and they would re-appear in court on Monday, March 1, 2004.

The five are Anthony Kofi, Mohammed Larbi, Otoo Osumanu, Ali Snai and Isah Awudu.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector E.O.Amaning, told the court that the complainant in the case, is a truck pusher and a member of the Kasoa branch of PROTOA, whilst the accused persons are also porters of GPRTU at Kasoa.

He said for three months now, there had been some misunderstanding between the GPRTU and PROTOA over loading at the Kasoa lorry park. Chief Inspector Amaning told the court that due to the misunderstanding, the Kasoa GPRTU allegedly damaged a kiosk belonging to PROTOA last year. On February 19, at about 0900 hours, Yahaya went to the house of their chairman at Kasoa Zongo, and whilst he was leaving, he was attacked by a mob.

He said the accused persons who were among the mob, beat Yahaya and hit him with an object, which made him sustain serious injuries at the back of the head.

The prosecution said Yahaya was rushed to the Agona Swedru Government Hospital where he was treated and discharged. The matter was reported to the Kasoa Police and the accused persons were arrested.