The suspects
An Accra High Court (Criminal Division) is expected to commence today the trial of the two young men accused of murdering Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu (popularly called JB), the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa North in the Eastern Region.
They are Daniel Asiedu, 19, aka Sexy Don Don, phone dealer and Vincent Bosso, aka Junior Agogo, phone repairer.
The two are to appear before the court following an order last month by the district court, presided over by Stephen Owusu, that they should be arraigned there for trial.
Sexy Don Don has been slapped with the charge of murder while Agogo faces the charge of conspiracy to rob.
In the case of Agogo, the prosecution held that at about 1:00 am on February 9, 2016 at Shaishie, East Legon in Accra, he conspired with Daniel to commit murder.
Daniel, according to the prosecution, on the same day and time intentionally and unlawfully caused the death of the MP.
The court had committed the two for trial at the high court because the state has established a prima facie case against them.
The appearance of the accused before the court today comes at the time when the family of the deceased is pushing for fresh investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of the legislator.
The family last week in a petition jointly signed by N. Kwaku Solomon and Kofi Atta, spokespersons for the Acheampong family which they say represents JB, said, “Just as the Ghanaian people want to know, tens of questions are lingering on the minds of the late JB Danquah-Adu’s family which include you (Mr. President), requires immediate steps to unravel the mystery behind his murder and arrest and prosecution of all those who have a hand in this.”
At the high court, a jury is expected to be constituted to assist the presiding judge to adjudicate the case.
The spokespersons said, “Mr. President, it is worthwhile to note that a number of security analysts ruled out robbery as the motive for the murder and that everything points to a premeditated attack.
“Mr. President, if the society we live in cannot protect its citizens or seek justice for such an honorable and astute businessman, who as a matter of fact is your cousin and his family fought with their blood to attain independence for our dear nation, then what is the faith of the ordinary hawker on the street and millions of homeless Ghanaian citizens if they fall into such circumstances?”
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
