The Ho Magistrate Court 1 has remanded all 77 persons arrested in connection with the November 5 disturbances at the Ehi Police Station. They were arraigned on Friday on charges including causing unlawful damage, causing harm, and rioting with weapons.
Counsel for the first 39 accused persons, Joan Akorfa Osei, told the court that her clients remain presumed innocent.
She disputed the prosecution’s claim that the accused were captured on video committing the offences, arguing that the incident appeared to be a mass action that led to the arrest of several uninvolved or misidentified people.
She urged the court to grant them bail, describing them as local residents, farmers, and parents caught up in the situation.
Lawyer Benedict Kofitse, who represented accused persons numbered 40 to 77, also asked the court to admit his clients to bail. He argued that even if video evidence exists, releasing them would not hinder the investigation.
The prosecution opposed both applications, asking the court to remand the suspects for two weeks to allow investigators to continue their work, noting that “prosecution is a process, not an event.”
Presiding Magistrate Albert Annor Owusu ruled that granting bail at this stage would be premature. He ordered all 77 accused to be remanded into prison custody for 14 days.
The case has been adjourned to November 27 for further investigations.