DRIVERS RUN AWAY FROM COURT (Page 30)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

Drama unfolded at the Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Mr Justice Ernest Yao Obimpeh on Monday, January 28, 2008, when seven taxi and ‘trotro’ drivers arrested by the police and charged with obstruction of traffic took to their heels moments after the court had convicted five of their colleagues who had appeared before the court.
Minutes after the court had convicted their colleagues to a fine of GH¢300 each for similar offences, the seven suspects took to their heels before the court could hear their cases.
The court has issued a warrant for the arrest of the seven suspects including Thomas Agyemang, Yaw Effah, Joseph Mensah and Kwabena Gyimah.
The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service has impounded their vehicles for them to assist in investigations.
The Ashanti Regional MTTU Police Commander, Mr James Sarfo Peprah, told the Daily Graphic that following a tip-off that a section of trotro and taxi drivers had deliberately obstructed a road at the Unicorn House area of the Central Business District (CBD) of Adum in Kumasi, some policemen from the MTTU were dispatched to restore sanity and allow for the free flow of traffic.
He said since the Ghana 2008 tournament started, the police had always been alert to ensure that motorists respected traffic regulations and avoid any incidents that could create vehicular congestion.
Mr Peprah said in the course of investigations, the police detected that 12 taxi and trotro drivers had obstructed the road with their vehicles and their action did not only impede the free flow of vehicles but also created a chaotic situation.
He said the police arrested the drivers and after investigations, they were arraigned and charged with obstruction.
Mr Peprah further said since the dock in the court could not take all the 12 suspects, they appeared in batches and the first five were convicted and fined GH¢300.00 each.
He said moments after the first batch had been convicted the others vanished. When the court became convinced that they had escaped, it issued a warrant for their arrest.