Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has described as “hypocrites” the Minority in Parliament for calling on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure the eight members of Delta Force who were acquitted by a Kumasi Circuit Court for lack of evidence are re-arrested.
According to Bernard Antwi Boasiako, he fully supports the decision by the State Attorney to drop charges preferred against the group, therefore calling on the Minority to “shut up and stop being hypocrites”.
“The AG has spoken and so I urge the minority NDC especially Haruna Iddrisu to shut up and stop being a hypocrite. It is my hope that the other members who are facing other charges will also be freed” he said on Accra- based Neat FM.
The members of the group were standing trial for forcibly entering a courtroom in Kumasi and freeing some of their members who were in lawful custody.
But they were discharged by the court, presided over by Justice Patricia Amponsah after t the Principal State Attorney Marie Louise-Simmons said she had received instructions from the Attorney General’s office in Kumasi to drop charges against the accused for lack of evidence.
The NDC MPs at a news conference in Accra Wednesday said the Attorney-General’s decision to discontinue the case for want of evidence is “an abuse of discretion, it is capricious.”
Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu told the media it was obvious from the court’s ruling that it was done for narrow political expediency because the men belong to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
But the Ministry for Information in a sharp contrast said in a statement that the Principal State Attorney in the case took the decision to drop charges on his own accord without consulting his superiors.
According to the ministry, the government is investigating the matter and will deal with persons whose actions in the matter “bring the work and commitment of the department into disrepute.” It also assured that it will take the necessary measures to remedy the situation in the interest of the Republic.
However, Chairman Wontumi as he is popularly known noted that he is excited they were freed since it confirmed his long-held view that they were innocent.
He believes the conduct of the Delta Force members cannot be equated to the circumstances that led to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to release the Montie Three.
According to Chairman Wontumi, the Attorney General’s decision was legal in the face of the law.
He reiterated his support to the Delta Force, daring the Minority to come and arrest them.
Listen to Chairman Wontumi