Soldier Caged�For 30 Days Without Bail For Deserting GAF

Officers of the Ghana Military Police have detained their colleague soldier, Corporal Dominic Ohene Afram for thirty days without bail for allegedly deserting the Ghana Armed Forces and staying abroad for nine years. Corporal Afram was arrested at the airport when he arrived in the country after nine years overseas and is currently being held in pre-trial confinement in accordance with the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) and its regulations. Unable to bear the detention of her husband, wife of Corporal Afram filed a Habeas Corpus at an Accra Human Rights Court before he was admitted to bail. The court, presided over by Justice Ken A. Okwabi, was told by the respondents after the wife of the Corporal, Eugenia Akosua Yeboah Owusu, had filed a writ of Habeas Corpus against the Attorney General's Department and four other respondents, that Corporal Afram had been detained. Lt. Col. B.Z. Ayorongo, the Commanding Officer of the Ghana Military Police, Burma Camp, said the, �writ herewith do certify and return that Corporal Dominic Ohene Afram is detained in my custody under, and by virtue of Corporal Dominic Ohene Afram having deserted the Ghana Armed Forces since 2006.� According to Lt. Col. Ayorongo, �188659 Corporal Dominic Ohene Afram is being held in pre-trial confinement in accordance with the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) and its regulations.� Corp. Ohene Afram was arrested on May 12, 2015 when he returned to the jurisdiction and he is being processed for a service trial. Justice Okwabi, prior to admitting him to bail said the suspect should deposit his passport with the appropriate officer in charge of the 48 Engineers Regiment at Teshie. The court also directed that, �the respondents should inform all security agencies with photographs and other details of the suspect, so as to enable the agencies apprehend the suspect should he try to abscond again.� He said, the security officers manning Ghana land borders as well as sea and air should be alerted before he grants the suspect bail in the sum of GH�300,000.00 with two sureties to be justified with registered landed property. The suspect, he said is to report to the Commanding Officer of the 48 Engineer Regiment every week until the matter is put before the Court Martial. He said the Commanding Officer of the 48 Engineer Regiment should inform the Court if the applicant defaults in reporting. Justice Okwabi noted that, the Registrar shall ensure that the bail conditions are met before the suspect is released and shall communicate same to the officer holding the suspect appropriately. The applicant in her writ said, she is the lawful wife of the suspect formerly of 48 Engineer Regiment, Wajir Barracks at Teshie. And that on Tuesday May 12, 2015 her husband was arrested by the operatives of the respondents on suspicion of deserting the Ghana Armed Forces and has since been in their detention. She said even though she had been granted periodic permission to visit her husband, several pleas to officers of the respondents to grant her husband bail pending his presentation in court have been turned down.