Eleven Barred From Station

Accra March 11, GNA- Eleven persons allegedly involved in the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) and Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) riots at the Neoplan Station in Accra, have been barred from going to the station until they are further directed. The order came when they were arraigned at an Accra Circuit Court on Thursday.

Emmanuel Danso alias Angoh, station master of GPRTU, and John Adomako alias Kwame Futah, office clerk of GPRTU, were charged with two counts of abetment of crime.

The remaining nine, made up of porters and drivers' mates, were also charged with rioting and causing unlawful damages.

They included Atta Amaniampong, Yakubu Mohammed, Kwabena Offei Seth, Thomas Tawiah and Solomon Mensah.

The rest were Mukaila Adams, Justice Appiah, Yaro Nuhu and Issac Atta Poku.

They pleaded not guilty and the court, presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Ankamah admitted each of them to bail in the sum of 100 million cedis, with sureties to re-appear on March 25.

Earlier Deputy Superintendent of Police Eric Amoako objected to bail saying the accused persons were needed to assist in police investigations to track down those at large.

Mr. Agyabeng G. Akrasi, counsel for the accused persons, however, told the court that there was no tension between the members of PROTOA and GPRTU, since the two were to meet the Police Administration over the issue.

"We were supposed to meet the Police Administration over the issue this morning, but here we are at the court."

He expressed his dismay about the facts as narrated by the prosecution and stated that the facts adduced by the prosecution could not establish the guilt of the accused persons.

He stated further that his clients had fixed places of abode, and would assist the police in their investigations.

"They would not abscond if they were granted bail," he added. The facts of the case were that the complainant was the Secretary of the Secretary of PROTOA.

On March 10, this year, members of PROTOA had on scale a 33-seater bus, property of Mr. Kofi Nyame, which was loading passengers to Kumasi. Prosecution said Danso and Adomako who spotted the bus, went and mobilized the other accused persons and others now at large to prevent the bus from being loaded.

They started throwing stones at the bus and the passengers ran helter-skelter for their lives.

In the process, two side glasses, one right side mirror and the windscreen of the bus, valued at 4.1 million cedis were damaged. A report was made to the police and the accused persons were arrested.