<<Print>>

The Ghana Bar Association has called on the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery to disband the pro-NPP vigilante group, Delta Force and any other vigilante group in the country, with immediate effect.

The Association has condemned in no uncertain terms the attacks by the Delta Force members on a Her Honour Mary Senkyere who was presiding over a criminal case against thirteen (13) members of the group.

The 13 accused persons were arraigned before the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Circuit Court in connection with the raid that occurred at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.

All 13 were charged with assault on a public officer, causing unlawful damage and preventing a public officer from doing his lawful duty.

They were remanded in custody and expected to re-appear on Thursday, April 20, 2017 but the Delta Force stormed the court and freed the accused persons, also vandalizing the court properties.

In a statement released by the Association, it implored the Interior Minister to "as a matter of urgency take steps to ensure the immediate disbandment of the "Delta Force" and all other vigilante groups that have sprung up in our country".

The Association further called on all Ghanaians to support their course and ensure that the judiciary is not intimidated by any individuals.

"We call on all well meaning Ghanaians to condemn this resort to violence in flagrant disobedience of court orders. The Bar wishes finally to emphasize that an independent judiciary is the backbone of the rule law. A judiciary that is protected against all forms of intimidation and interference is the key to securing judicial independence and the freedoms of the citizenry. We should therefore not, in any circumstance, countenance any attack whatsoever on the courts and the Judiciary as a whole for that matter", the GBA stated emphatically.