Covid-19: Usher, drummer granted GHS20k bail for defying ban on church services

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Two persons have been named as accomplices in the case involving Apostle Kofi Nkansah-Sarkodie — the man who was arrested on two occasions in Kumasi — for defying a Covid-19 ban on church services.

Esther Boatemaa, a church usher and Kwame Nkansah Sarkodie, a drummer, are both members of the Open Arms Ministries located at North Suntreso in the Ashanti Regional capital.

The founder of the church, Apostle Nkansah-Sarkodie, and one Kofi Nkansah-Sarkodie Snr, also a church administrator, are already facing charges of unlawful assembly.

All four suspects on Thursday, March 26, pleaded not guilty to the charge and have since been granted a GHS 10,000 bail with two sureties by the court presided over by Rosemarie Afua Asante (Mrs).

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 headquarters of 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. The case has since been adjourned to Tuesday, May 19, 2020.

6 others granted GHS 60,000 bail

Meanwhile, the court also granted a GHS 60,000 with two sureties each to six members of the Truth to Heaven Ministries — another church located at Aprabon Dompoase in Kumasi.

They have been named as Moses Dagadu Ametepe, founder of the church, Eric Acheampong, Johnson Addai and Richard Domfeh Mensah, all pastors.

The rest are Elder Rexford Agyei and Pastor Richard Antwi.

They are facing the Asokwa District Court for unlawful assembly and have pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Sitting continues on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.

By Jonathan Ofori, Daily Mail GH