A group of fetish priestesses on Monday stormed an Accra Circuit Court to render an unqualified apology for their unruly behaviour last Friday in an attempt to demand the release of their colleague, Bernard Ayi Amegavi, who has been remanded by the court.
They claimed their colleague has been on remand for the past three months.
Apologising on their behalf, Mr Vincent Aikins, defence counsel, told the court that he had spoken to the fetish priestesses and priests not to repeat the act, adding that they had no business at the court.
Mr Aikins, therefore, prayed for adjournment because his client, Amegavi, had been sent back to custody because the prosecutor was not available.
The case was, therefore, adjourned to May 13.
Last Friday, the fetish priestesses, dressed in their regalia, stormed the court to demand the release of Amegavi.
They were, however, not allowed to enter the courtroom. This brought confusion between them and the court officials.
Armed with small, short brooms, they stood behind the door to the court until the accused person was called and whisked away by security personnel.
In the midst of the confusion, one of them sustained an injury on her arm when the short broom held by one of the group members pricked her hand.
On March 4, this year, Amegavi was arraigned for possessing a pump action gun, a pistol, a military uniform and two pairs of military boots.
Amegavi’s military uniform had his name tag and a rank of sergeant.
He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of firearms and military accoutrements without lawful authority.
The court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, remanded Amegavi into police custody.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector E. Afful told the court that the complainants in the case were policemen from the Mamprobi Police Station.
The accused resides at Mamprobi.
On February 29, at about 6pm, the Tema Abbafoitse, who is also the National President of the Ghana Psychic and Traditional Healers Association, sent a letter to the Mamprobi Police Station to assist in tracing Amegavi for an investigation for holding himself as a member of the association and practicing as a traditional healer.
The complainants, therefore, invited Amegavi to the police station for questioning.
Prosecution said during questioning, an informant alerted the police that Amegavi had in his possession guns and had also been seen in a military uniform.
The prosecutor said the complainants escorted Amegavi to his room at Mamprobi, where a pump action gun and a pistol were retrieved.
On March 1, another search was conducted and a set of military uniform with the accused person’s name tag boldly displayed on it as well as two “desert” boots were found in his room.
Prosecution said Amegavi could not produce documents covering the items.
In his statement, Amegavi admitted that the military accoutrements and guns were found in his room, but he failed to lead police to where he obtained them.
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