GPRTU Protests Bail to Armed Robbers

The Upper West Region Secretariat of the GPRTU has appealed to the Chief Justice and the Inspector General of Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the granting of bail to four suspected armed highway robbers by a Tamale Circuit Tribunal.

At a news conference at Wa, the Regional Industrial Relations Officer of GPRTU (Ghana Private Road Transport Union), Mr Nuhu Mahama said reports reaching the union said the suspects, who hail from Bole on their return to the town were threatening to deal with the Policemen, who arrested them.

The four suspects were alleged to be part of a gang of six armed robbers, who ambushed four Kumasi-bound buses from Wa on the night of June 14 on the Bole-Bamboi road and robbed the passengers of several millions of cedis and CFA Francs.

Two ex-convicts from Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region allegedly recruited them for the operation.

Mr Mahama said the Bole Police, who arrested the four suspects sent them to Tamale where the Regional Police Commander took over the docket from them.

The Regional Industrial Relations Officer said on hearing of the arrest, he led some of the victims to Tamale last week to identify them.

On arrival at Tamale they were surprisingly informed that the suspects were hurriedly put before the circuit tribunal and granted bail within five minutes.

"We returned to Wa without seeing any of the armed robbers as they immediately got people, who stood surety for them and they were all admitted to bail."

The Secretariat, therefore, expressed dissatisfaction with this development.

"We believe that public confidence and safety on the road would be restored if the men arrested in connection with the robbery are made to face the law."

He said the number of passengers travelling on the Wa-Kumasi road had reduced following the highway robbery and this had also led to a loss of revenue to transport owners and the state.