Seven persons who allegedly used force and violence to prevent electorates from voting in Ghana’s December polls at Nyankpala in the Northern Region have been granted bail.

The accused persons, Alhassan Abukari, Alhaji Bashiru Mohammed, Yakubu Sumaila, Alhaji Alhassan Nasiru Nasam, Majeed Issah, and Kamara Fode Issaiaga, were granted bail in the sum of GH₵50,000 with two sureties.

The court further ordered them to report to the Police Investigators at the Criminal Investigation Department in Accra and the Regional Command in Tamale.

• Read also: One dead in Nyankpala shooting incident

Latif Abdulai, also known as "Copshie," an accomplice, is said to be at large.

Six who were present in court have been charged with participating in the activities of a vigilante group, conspiracy, undue influence, and conspiracy to cause harm.

Latif Abdulai, who is at large, has been additionally charged with causing harm to Abdul Aziz Mohammed and Issahaku Sayibu by shooting them with a pistol.

Earlier on, the court presided over by Justice Mary E. Nyanzuh was expected to take the pleas of the accused persons and remand them to appear on January 8, 2025.

On December 31, 2024, the accused persons appeared before another High Court after filing a motion on notice for bail pending trial.

Lawyers for the accused persons also petitioned the Chief Justice after filing a motion on notice for bail pending trial.

The defence counsel John Dzaha argued that since they were incarcerated, the accused persons' health continued to deteriorate, adding that the accused persons had fixed places of abode and plied various trades.

The prosecution’s case was that on December 7, 2024, during the general elections at Nyankpala in the Northern Region, a group of armed men believed to be sympathisers of the New Patriotic Party appeared in the vicinity and shot indiscriminately into the public.

The court heard that the Tamale Police rushed to the scene and found Sayibu Haruna, a victim, lying in a pool of blood.

Two other victims, namely Abdul Aziz Mohammed and Issahaku Sayibu, sustained various injuries from the gunshots.

The prosecution said the three victims were rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where Sayibu Haruna was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to the prosecution, the Tamale Police, in the course of investigations on the same day, December 7, 2024, arrested Alhassan Abukari, the first accused person, who was also a driver to the Tolon District Chief Executive, Fuseini Salifu.

Five of the accused persons, excluding Latif Abdulai, were arrested while on board an unregistered Range Rover vehicle at the scene in connection with the offences.

A search conducted in the vehicle of Alhassan Abukari revealed a Taurus pistol with two magazines loaded with one misfired 9mm ammunition and eight live 9mm rounds.

The prosecution said investigations revealed that on December 7, 2024, the accused persons conspired and armed themselves with a G3 rifle, AK-47 assault rifle, and pistols, and fired indiscriminately at Nyankpala in their bid to scare away electorates from casting their votes.

Additionally, the prosecution said the accused persons shot into a National Democratic Congress pavilion/stand, resulting in injuries and death.

The prosecution told the court that due to increased insecurity in the area, the Ghana Police Service arrested the accused persons to prevent them from being lynched or attacked by members of the community.

According to the prosecution, “investigations are still ongoing.”