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The court case involving Apostle Kofi Nkansah Sarkodie, the man who defied a Covid-19 ban on public gathering has been adjourned to June 11.
The Kumasi-based pastor and three others are facing the Asokwa District Court for unlawful assembly, after they held a church service at the Open Arms Ministries at North Suntreso in the Ashanti Regional capital.
At a third court sitting on Tuesday, May 19, prosecution prayed for more time to allow it to hold discussions with the office of the Attorney General on “whether to maintain or amend the charges against the suspects.”
“So we pray for adjournment so we make our position clear to the court”, the court heard.
The court, presided over by Rosemarie Afua Asante (Mrs) granted the request and adjourned the case to June 11, 2020.
Background
Apostle Nkansah-Sarkodie was arrested on two occasions in Kumasi for defying a Covid-19 ban on public gathering.
Three others; Esther Boatemaa, a church usher, Kwame Nkansah Sarkodie, a drummer and Kofi Nkansah-Sarkodie Snr, also a church administrator are also facing the court as accomplices.
Facts
Chief Superintendent Kofi Blagodzi, prosecuting, told the court that the complainants were personnel from the Ghana Police Service.
He told the court that on Monday, March 18, 2020, the complainants received information that some youth had massed up to attack the church for defying the President’s directive on ban on church activities.
He said the officers were deployed to the location and saw the accused persons and 23 others who had gathered at the church’s auditorium.
They were arrested and brought to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Prosecution told the court that the suspects admitted and explained that they were discussing a bill passed by Parliament and how they could be meeting their congregants in the mist of the Covid-19 pandemic.
They were subsequently charged and arraigned. All four suspects are on a ¢100,000 bail with two sureties each.
By Jonathan Ofori, Daily Mail GH
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