News
Oliver Vormawor denied bail; Felicity Nelson, four others granted GH₵20k bail
The High Court has refused to grant bail to Oliver Barker Vormawor, a lead figure in the Democracy Hub protest while granting GH₵20,000 bail to Felicity Nelson and four other co-accused.
The court’s ruling also directed the Circuit Court to begin prosecution within 72 hours, warning that failure to do so could result in reconsideration of Vormawor’s bail.
The denial of bail for Barker Vormawor stems from his prior release on bail for treason felony charges when the Democracy Hub protest-related offences allegedly occurred.
The presiding judge voiced concerns that releasing him on bail might lead to further offences, citing the Criminal Procedure Act, section 96(5c), which allows courts to deny bail if there is a reasonable fear that the accused will commit another crime.
Barker Vormawor’s legal representative, Justice Srem Sai, argued that the court’s primary concern should be whether the accused would stand trial if granted bail, highlighting Vormawor’s consistent court appearances over the past three years in his treason case.
Srem Sai argued that his client would not evade trial for the comparatively lesser misdemeanours in the current case.
Despite these points, the court stood by its decision, maintaining that the risk of potential re-offending justified denying Vormawor’s bail request.
Meanwhile, Felicity Nelson and four other individuals involved in the same case were granted bail under less restrictive conditions.
The court’s decision comes after Ama Governor and eight other protesters were each granted GH₵70000 bail.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
Retirement service for Elder John Ackom-Asante,3 others
Retired Deputy Editor of The Spectator, Elder John Ackom-Asante, was last Sunday honoured by the Church of Pentecost Windy Hills District in Kasoa in the Central Region, with a retirement thanksgiving service, after serving for 26 year as an Elder of the church.
He was honoured with a citation and certificate of service along with three other elders who served in the capacity for various years.
Elder Ackom-Asante was baptised at the Darkuman Central Assembly in 1979 and ordained as an Elder in 1997.
The citation read “Your selfless service, zeal, willingness to relate wholeheartedly and your desire to effect change has gone a long way to shape the lives of many people in the church and the nation over the 26 years of your dedication to the service of the Lord.”
Elder Ackom- Asante held many positions at the Darkuman Central Assembly, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and Tema, serving in various capacities as youth and evangelism ministry leader and marriage counsellor.
He was the founding member of the Darkuman Christian Fellowship, a member of the Greater Accra Christian Fellowship; member of Bible Society of Ghana; founding member Obuasi Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International and founding member of New Times Corporation Christian Fellowship and Chaplain, Methodist University Tema Campus 2009- 2010.
As a professional journalist, Elder Ackom-Asante combined effectively and efficiently his duty as a member and elder of the church and the demands of his profession, with admiration from the church, kith and kin, till his retirement on December
From Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Kasoa
