The Accra Circuit Court, under the jurisdiction of Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, has proposed the exploration of an out-of-court settlement between the Greater Accra Minister, Henry Quartey, widely known as Accra Commando, and a 61-year-old pensioner accused of slapping him during a traffic altercation.
In open court, Mr. Acquah suggested this alternative approach and adjourned the case to September 26, 2023, to allow for further consideration.
The adjournment was specifically intended for the prosecution, led by DSP Evans Kesse, to present its first prosecution witness. DSP Kesse has indicated that three witnesses are expected to testify, including Minister Henry Quartey, his Dispatch Rider, and the Investigator involved in the case.
The accused, Nii Odoi Kwao II, also known as Robert Koomson, aged 61 and retired as a Computer Programmer, allegedly confronted the Minister in traffic within the Osu suburb of Accra. He faces charges of causing road obstruction, making threats of death, assaulting a public officer, and engaging in offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace.
The 61-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently out on bail.
According to the prosecution, the complainant in the case served as a police officer stationed at VVIP and was assigned as the Dispatch Rider for the Greater Accra Regional Minister. On December 8, 2022, around 1:10 pm, the Minister, accompanied by his security detail, was in Osu. They encountered the accused, who had blocked the road with his Kia Bongo car, preventing the Minister and others from proceeding.
The complainant attempted to signal the accused to clear the way for other road users, but the accused refused and stated that no one could use the road until he had completed his business. This obstruction resulted in a significant traffic jam on that stretch of the road.
In response, the Minister approached the accused to advise him to move his vehicle, but the accused disregarded him and became violent, threatening to kill the Minister if he came closer. Additionally, the accused used offensive language, including baseless accusations of theft against the Minister.
Subsequently, the accused abandoned his vehicle in the middle of the road, locked it, removed the ignition key, and physically assaulted the Minister by slapping him. The Minister's security personnel intervened and apprehended the accused, subsequently handing him over to the Regional Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Accra.
During the investigation, the accused allegedly admitted to the offense in his caution statement, leading to his formal charging and trial in court.
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