(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – Two journalists, Eben Quarcoo and Kofi Coomson, whose arrests were ordered by the court last week, have had their bail conditions rescinded and their passports deposited with the courts for fear that they would jump bail before their case is heard. **Updates IFEX alert of 28 July 1998** In a submission […]
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – Two journalists, Eben Quarcoo and Kofi
Coomson, whose arrests were ordered by the court last week, have had their
bail conditions rescinded and their passports deposited with the courts for
fear that they would jump bail before their case is heard.
**Updates IFEX alert of 28 July 1998**
In a submission to the court requesting a review of their bail conditions,
the Deputy Attorney-General, Mr. Martin Amidu, said he had information which
indicated the preparation of the accused persons to leave the country,
adding that the two journalists left the country some time ago for a long
while, during which their whereabouts were unknown to the police.
Lawyers for the accused persons, however, rejected the statements of the
prosecution saying they were without basis.
Background Information
Last week, the Courts ordered the arrest and remand of Kofi Coomson,
editor-in-chief of the “Ghanaian Chronicle”, and Eben Quarcoo, former editor
of the “Free Press”, claiming the two were likely to jump bail in connection
with criminal proceedings pending against them in the courts. The two were
charged last year under obsolete colonial criminal libel laws for carrying
articles in their respective papers which accused the Ghana Government of
drug-trafficking (see IFEX alert of 23 February 1996).
