Four Accused “National Security Operatives” Fail to Appear Before Court 

Some four Alleged National Security Operatives, who were accused to have engaged themselves in illegal mining in the Atewa forest reserves case at Koforidua Circuit Court B  has been postponed.

This decision was influenced by a request by the Eastern Regional State Attorney, Emiley Addo-Kyere that the prosecution has not been able to put together its case for case management.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the case to August 5, 2021.

Four of the accused persons were not present in court on Wednesday, June 7, 2021, when the case was called.

The investigator from the Regional CID also arrived at the court premises close to an hour after the case was adjourned.

There was drama at the Koforidua Circuit Court “B” premises after the court presided by Her Honour Mercy Adei Kotei granted each of the 32 accused” galamsey operatives” Ghc350,000 bail with two surety one to be justified.

The court adjourned the case to July 7, 2021.

Last Tuesday, the Aide to the National Security Coordinator who was part of the 32 accused persons was denied bail by the Koforidua High Court.

George Asante, the aide to Major General Francis Adu Amanfo (rtd), the National Security Coordinator appointed by President Akufo Addo in February 2021 to replace the late Joshua Kyeremeh, was among the 32 persons claiming to be National Security Operatives arrested in Atewa Forest reserve engaging in galamsey.

They were remanded by Koforidua Circuit Court ‘B’ to reappear before the court on June 8.

George Asante however filed a bail application through his Counsel at the High Court but has been refused.

George Asante is alleged to be the ring leader of the accused persons most of whom are members of disbanded vigilante groups -Delta and Invisible Forces some engaged as National Security Operatives in the first term of President Akufo Addo government.

Previously, on May 24, 2021, the court refused to grant them bail and sent them to remand for 14 days to reappear, and was lucky the next day when each of them was granted a bail of 325,000 each.

William Ofori Akwaboa, Eastern Regional Correspondent