The Circuit Court 11 in Accra, presided over by Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah, has remanded seven persons including two minors for their alleged involvement in a recent incident of gun violence at Bawku in the Upper East Region.
The accused individuals : Atinaire Adongo (28), Anadine Joe (32), Akelimbona Emmanuel (28), Nsor Baba (19), Isaac Paul (16), and Ayine Ayinebisa (14) have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime and discharging firearms in town, offences contrary to Sections 23(1) and 29 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
According to the prosecution, the case was initiated following gunfire reported on October 24, 2025, around 7:00 p.m. at Punyumuri in the Binduri District. The complainants, who are military personnel deployed for peace enforcement operations in the area, traced the gunshots to an uncompleted building, where the accused were allegedly discovered.
A search of the premises reportedly led to the recovery of an AK-47 assault rifle, a Bruni pistol, 323 rounds of assorted ammunition, and a body armoured plate.
The accused, however, denied any wrongdoing, claiming they were masons from Bolgatanga working on a school construction project at Punyumuri. They explained that they were arrested after being unable to flee when gunshots were heard, citing unfamiliarity with the area.
During court proceedings, DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye, the prosecutor, informed the court that the accused persons were transported to Accra to assist in ongoing investigations. He urged the court to remand them to enable investigators to complete their work, emphasizing that their plea had not yet been taken.
Defense Counsel Juliet Dale Agboh, representing all seven accused, opposed the request, describing the continued detention as “unfortunate and unlawful.” She argued that the suspects had been held since Saturday, in violation of the constitutional 48-hour limit, and that the police could have completed preliminary inquiries before their appearance in court.
Counsel Agboh further alleged that the two minors among the accused had been assaulted by military personnel during their arrest and had not been allowed to bathe since their detention. She said the treatment had affected their physical and emotional wellbeing, urging the court to release them and allow for rearrest if necessary.
In his response, the prosecutor dismissed the claims of assault as false and unfounded, stating that none of the suspects had reported any mistreatment after being handed over to the police on Sunday afternoon. He also maintained that the offences involved permitted temporary detention pending investigations.
After listening to both parties, Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah granted the prosecution’s request and ordered that all seven accused persons be remanded into police custody until Monday, November 3, 2025, to allow for the conclusion of investigations.
The court further directed that the two minors be placed under the supervision of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) until the next court sitting.
