Court orders mental evaluation of anti-galamsey protester
THE Accra Circuit Court on Monday ordered prosecution to have Thomas Yeboah, one of the anti-galamsey protesters, undergo mental evaluation, to determine his fitness to stand trial.
This was after the lawyer of Yeboah, Nelson Noble Amedorwornu, informed the court that his client was still in police custody despite being granted bail.
Amedorwornu said that Yeboah was still detained because no one was willing to act as his surety due to his lack of coherence.
Yeboah appeared in court alongside Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Convener of Democracy Hub, and 12 others.
The court, presided over by Mr Kwabena Kodua Obiri Yeboah, directed the prosecution to facilitate the execution of bail for Yeboah.
Fanny Otoo, another accused, who was not present in court earlier, had his plea taken after the charges against him—offensive conduct, causing damage, and assaulting a public officer, were read. He was granted bail by the court.
The prosecution, led by State Attorney Nana Akosua Kusi, informed the court that they had not yet filed all witness statements and requested a one-week adjournment.
Regarding Yeboah’s coherence issues, the prosecution mentioned it just learned about it, and suggested that the court should order a psychiatric examination for Yeboah.
The court instructed the prosecution to submit all witness statements by October 22, 2024, and adjourned the case to October 24, 2024.
Barker-Vormawor, remains in custody. His detention drew a crowd of supporters to the court, who chanted, “Free Oliver Now.”
In a separate case, Raphael Afful Williams and eight other protesters also had their hearing adjourned to November 6, 2024. This followed the prosecution’s request for additional time to file witness statements. —GNA
