Police in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region will on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 arraign all Forty-Nine (49) persons who were arrested for flouting the ban on social gathering before court.
The group was arrested on Saturday by the COVID-19 Taskforce at Akaporeso in the Obuasi East District of the Region while they held a wedding ceremony without observing the social distancing protocols.
The suspects, including the groom, Philip Ahinakwa, 35, and his bride Ama Frema, 40 have since the arrest been granted bail.
Speaking on Citi FM, Obuasi Municipal Police Commander, DSP Martin Asenso indicated that though some of the suspects fled, the statements of those arrested have been taken and they will be put before court.
“The rest of the suspects run away. There were children and youth amongst them and for humanitarian grounds, we didn’t bring them to the police station, we don’t have space for all of them here. But, we have taken their statements and granted them bail.”
“They will appear before the court on Tuesday. We are not saying people should not get married but we have to respect the fact that there is a directive but to gather in that number and not observe the social distancing protocols which have been laid down, that is the elements of the offence,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo on Friday, March 27, 2020, announced the imposition of Restrictions order which seeks to control the movement of people as a means to prevent the spread of COVID-19, after an already imposed ban on Public gatherings on Wednesday, March 15, 2020.
By section 6 of the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), the minimum punishment for flouting the restrictions/lockdown announced by the President is a fine of GHc 12,000.00 or a prison term of 4 years or to both, according to the Ghana Police Service.
On Sunday, April 12, President Akufo-Addo by an Executive Instrument (EI) extended the duration of the restrictions imposed under EI 64 and EI 65.
