A dramatic scene played out at the Adentan Circuit Court as it barred a 32-year-old unemployed man, Abdul Wahab, from entering the Accra Mall area to assist commercial drivers in loading passengers.
This prohibition followed allegations that Wahab had caused harm to a member of the GPRTU Task Force, Francis Donkor, over a GH₵20 loading fee dispute.
Charged with causing harm, Abdul Wahab appeared before the court presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Awo Balokah.
The court granted him bail in the sum of GH₵60,000 with two sureties after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered Wahab to stay 100 meters away from the complainant, Francis Donkor, any member of the Ghana Private Road Trust Union (GPRTU), and the Accra Mall area.
Wahab, also known as a loading boy, contended that on the day of the incident, he was assisting a commercial driver in loading passengers and was entitled to collect GH₵20 as a loading fee. However, he claimed that the complainant, Francis Donkor, demanded that he hand over the loading fee to him.
According to Wahab, he typically arrived in the area after 7:00 p.m. to ply his trade. He explained that when the GPRTU Task Force concluded its operations for the day, he took over the task of loading passengers to earn his livelihood.
Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Maxwell Lanyo, recounted that on July 19, 2023, the complainant, Francis Donkor, had visited the Accra Mall bus stop around 9:00 p.m. to assist drivers in loading their vehicles.
Wahab, who was also present at the scene to help drivers, reportedly took offense at the complainant's presence and confronted him.
The prosecution alleged that the complainant had alerted the drivers not to engage with Wahab, citing his presence at the bus stop as illegal. In response, Wahab purportedly pushed the complainant, causing him to fall to the ground.
Two other individuals, who are currently at large, then joined Wahab and subjected the complainant to severe beatings.
During the altercation, Wahab allegedly used a pavement block to strike the complainant's chest before fleeing the scene.
The prosecutor further revealed that on July 20, 2023, the complainant reported the incident to the police.
Subsequently, on August 13, 2023, Wahab was apprehended from his hideout. During his arrest, Wahab reportedly admitted to the offense in his caution statement.
This incident highlights the challenges and disputes that sometimes arise from overloading fees in the transportation sector, emphasizing the need for peaceful resolution and adherence to the law in such situations.
Reporting by Joyce Danso: Editing by Adewale Adejoke
