16 persons, including the workers' union chairman of Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra, on Monday appeared before an Accra circuit court, accused of chasing out and threatening their managers.

They are variously being held for conspiracy, threat of death, being on premises unlawfully, assault and impersonation.

Four of the six accused persons; Abdulaziz Salifu, Abdullatiff Mohammed, Abdulrauf Seidu and Joe Tidana, have been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢80,000 with three sureties after pleading not guilty to the charges. 

Robert Akeyon and Aziz Mohammed are, however, at large. 

The rest, who failed to appear in court, are Thomas Mingle, the union Chairman, Awal Mohammed, Vice Chairman, Henrietta Boakye, a Secretary, Luther Tetteh, Youth Organiser, Mustapha Quansah and Alfred Danquah, Trustees, Tish Etipe Aba, Vice Secretary.

The rest are Anita Owusu Afriyie, Women’s Organiser, Emelia Biney and Alex Adu Gyamfi, who are all members of the union.

The matter has been adjourned to September 18, 2014.

The accused persons were alleged to have assaulted the three complainants, Araba Quaigraine, General Manager; Tahidu Bukare, Human Resource Manager and the Financial Controller of the Hotel.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A. A. Annor told the court the six of the accused persons, were unemployed residents at Ashalley Botwey and Maamobi.

The prosecutor said the rest of the accused persons are union members of the Hotel.

DSP Annor said on August 11, this year, at about 0900 hours GMT, the first six accused persons were among a group of nine ‘Machomen’ hired by the union members to invade the hotel.

The accused persons confronted the General Manager, the Human Resource Manager and Financial Controller to hand over their office keys to them after introducing themselves as operatives from the National Security.

The accused persons, however, failed to produce their identity cards.

Prosecution said the alleged National Security impersonators  threatened to kill Ms Quaigraine when she refused to hand over the keys.

The accused persons forcefully collected the keys and manhandled the hotel managers, after chasing them out of their respective offices.

DSP Annor said the complainants reported the matter to the police and four of the accused person were arrested.

During interrogation it came to light that it was the union members who hired the first six accused persons.

When the union members were invited by the police they failed to turn up hence they were served with summons to appear in court.