Secessionist trial: ‘Why not kill us?’ Suspects cry as state amends charges
The state has amended charges against 78 suspects in the secessionist trial after the Accra Circuit court discharged them.
Some 10 minutes after the discharge, they were re-arrested as they walked out of court to take in their new freedom.
The appearance of police officers to cut short their freedoms triggered a fresh show of sadness and grief by the accused persons.
“If you won’t set us free, then shoot us. We are tired. Mosquitoes are biting us. Kill us,” they cried with their hands on their head.
Several of them wept bitterly as the police loaded them into the back of a truck to continue their remand, their second home since they were arrested in September.
The 78 suspects are crammed inside two small enclosed cells at Cantonments, Accra.
The accused persons complained about deprivation and abuse of their human rights since they were first remanded.
After the court discharged the suspects, they said they had not been fed since morning neither had they been given a cup of water.
At the previous court hearing, several of them complained they had not been given water to bath. The only female suspect Rejoice Amankwah, confirmed this to the judge amidst tears.
Before Wednesday’s hearing, the suspects had been charged with conspiracy, attending a meeting of a prohibited organization, participating in a campaign of a prohibited organization, and rioting.
The accused persons will now answer to an amended charge sheet. It now includes treason felony.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sylvester Asare, wanted the court to further remand the accused persons as investigations continued.
At the mention of this request, some of the suspects broke down completely.
Theophilus Donkor and Seth Iroko, legal counsel for the accused persons, were not pleased with request for remand.
“We are lost for words. We are frustrated and completely confused. Earlier this morning, they were discharged only to be re-arrested before you.
“Be it as it may, our humble plea, is for you to grant them bail. My client is a 66-year-old man. He was picked up at dawn and has been kept here for almost a month.
“Now, we have been brought an amended charge sheet and you want them to go back and come back when. You can’t trample on the rights of Ghanaians like that,” the lawyers argued.
The defence counsel referred to Article 19 (2) (c) of the 1992 constitution.
The cases were withdrawn from Court 2, 3, 6, 7 and 10 of the Accra Circuit Court. All these cases have been consolidated and will be heard at court 10.
The case is set to continue on November 4, 2020.