Accra, Ghana - Riots in the Northern Region capital of Tamale after the acquittal and discharge of 14 people standing trial for the murder of a prominent chief in March 2002 and Ghana’s 1-1 draw with England in a friendly football match in Wembley, England, were stories that were highlighted by the Ghanaian media this week. The chief, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, was murdered in communal between two families (Abudu and Andani) at Yendi in the Northern Region. Two suspects who were charged for the murder under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government were acquitted and discharged. The National Democratic Congress (NDC), which was in opposition at the time, promised to find the killers and the Attorney-General arraigned 14 persons from the Abudu family in court. But Justice E.K. Ayebi acquitted and discharged all of them on Tuesday when he upheld a “no case” submission by defence counsel.

The case is highly political as the Abudus vote for the NPP and the Andanis vote for NDC.

“Court rules in Ya-Na case: Accused freed,” was the headline of the state-owned Ghanaian Times.

It said one of the country’s most controversial high profile trials drew to a close on Tuesday with the acquittal and discharge of the 14 persons accused of murdering the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II in 2002.

The Accra Fast Track High Court, in its ruling on the submission of “no case”, was of the view that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused persons on the charges of conspiracy and murder in order to warrant a defence.

Judge Ayebi said the murder of the Ya-Na still remained a mystery since it was his view that the prosecution could not prove that the charred body retrieved by the police was that of the Ya-Na.

The state-owned Graphic’s story had the headline “Accused persons in Ya-Na murder case freed”.

It said there was spontaneous jubilation at the Accra Fast Track High Court when 14 people accused of allegedly conspiring to murder the Ya-Na in March 2002 were acquitted and discharged.

Abudu family members and sympathizers who were in the court to witness proceedings shouted in unison when the judge said, “You have been found not guilty. You are discharged.”

“Rioting in Tamale claims one life – Government imposes curfew,” was the headline of the Graphic on the riots.

The paper said one person was confirmed dead during rioting by an alleged Andani youth group in Tamale on Tuesday night.

A section of the youth went on the rampage after news went round on the acquittal and discharge of the 14 members of the Abudu family who were on trial.

It said the government imposed a curfew on Tamale metropolis and its environs as a result of the acts of vandalism by sections of the youth.

The Regional Security Council after a meeting on Tuesday also entreated the public, particularly the jubilant faction, to exercise restraint and caution in their celebrations in order not to cause any disaffection.

The Times had the headline “Curfew in Tamale”. He story said the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) had imposed a curfew on Tamale and its surrounding communities with effect from Tuesday.

The curfew, to run from 2300 GMT to 0600 GMT daily, will last for one week.

Meanwhile, the Northern Regional executive of the NDC has given the government one week to appeal against the ruling.

The government issued a statement saying it would take action after studying the ruling.

The Times said “Govt reacts to Ya-Na murder ruling”. The story said the government had directed the office of the Attorney-General to study the ruling of the Accra Fast Track High Court on the Ya-Na’s murder case and take immediate steps to ensure that justice was done to all persons affected by the ruling.

A statement signed in Accra by Mr John Tia Akologu, Minister of Information, said the government had taken notice of the ruling and the subsequent reaction by a section of the public and wished to
assure the public of its “commitment to the rule of law and fairness to all persons”.

The Graphic’s story on the government statement had the headline “AG to study ruling”.

The newspapers gave wide coverage to the reaction of President John Evans Atta Mills to the ruling and violence.

“We’ll get Ya-Na’s killers, president assures,” was he headline of the Graphic.

It said President Mills on Thursday gave the clearest indication yet of the resolve of the government to pursue the killers of the Ya-Na, and bring them to book.

He described the acquittal and discharge of the 14 alleged murderers as “a temporary setback” and declared that the government would continue to pursue all legal procedures to find the killers and bring them to book.

Answering questions from journalists moments after he had held a closed-door meeting with chiefs from the Andani family, he said, “Until we are able to find the killers of the Ya-Na, we cannot rest.”

“We’ll hunt for Ya-Na’s killers, Prez says,” was the headline of the Times which reported that President Mills bemoaned the Court ruling but said it would not deter government from finding the killers .

Meanwhile, the government has decided to appeal against the ruling. The Graphic quoted an official statement as saying the decision was in line with the government’s commitment to ensure justice in the murder of the Ya-Na and his elders.

“It cannot be the case that there was nobody responsible for the murder of the late king, and there must be justice to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book,” the statement said.

The newspapers also hailed the national senior football team, the Black Stars, for their 1-1 draw against the Three Lions of England in Wembley last Tuesday.

The Graphic’s headline read “Gyan’s super goal silences England.”

It said striker Asamoah Gyan set Wembley alight with a goal of supreme quality as the Black Stars held the Three Lions of England to a 1-1 draw in the first ever encounter between the two sides.

The Sunderland striker, who was Ghana’s key man in the historic match, enhanced his reputation with a clinical goal that earned the Stars a deserved equaliser and salvaged some pride for the vociferous Ghanaian fans who created an electrifying atmosphere in the iconic stadium throughout the match.

The Times said: “It was a fantastic goal by all standards and clearly justified the huge investment Sunderland manager Steve Bruce made in the player.”

Pana 02/04/2011