The High Court in Accra has remanded Ben Lord, alias Nana Barima, into prison custody after his plea of not guilty, in connection with the shooting and killing of a soldier at Kasoa in the central region.
His co-accused, Nana Amo Sekyere, has been granted bail of GH¢1 million with two sureties.
The incident, which involved the fatal shooting of Lance Corporal Michael Danso has garnered national attention due to its severity.
Lord, first accused (A1) and Sekyere second accused (A2), who both pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and murder, were arraigned before Justice Lydia Osei Marfo yesterday.
The court set strict conditions for Sekyere’s bail, requiring two sureties who must present landed property documents worth the bail amount.
The court also ordered that these documents be registered with the Lands Commission and verified by the court registry.
Additionally, Sekyere was instructed to surrender his passport to the court and report to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) every Friday at 9 a.m.
During the proceedings, the prosecution stated that all disclosures had been shared with the defense during the committal stage, apart from a biometric investigation (BI).
However, no witness statement had been filed by the prosecution, and Justice Marfo directed that the prosecution file all necessary documents and witness statements before the next court date.
The defense, represented by Nii Martei Korley, for Lord (A1) and Frank Kumah for Sekyere (A2), argued for their clients to remain in police custody.
Korley requested that Lord be kept in police custody due to ongoing medical treatment, but the prosecution opposed this, assuring the court that Nsawam Prison’s medical facilities could adequately handle Lord’s health needs.
Kumah, speaking for Sekyere, argued that his client had complied with bail conditions set by the Amasaman High Court on July 11, 2024, and was not a flight risk.
The prosecution, however, countered that the trial court had the authority to reconsider bail, given the gravity of the charges.
After considering the arguments, Justice Marfo upheld the bail conditions for Sekyere, instructing that his compliance with reporting requirements be monitored closely.
However, Lord was remanded to Nsawam Prison, with the court ordering that he receive the necessary medical attention.
The case has been adjourned, with the prosecution ordered to finalise its disclosures before the next hearing.
Captain Koshie Mills and Darly Osei Abugie were present, observing the proceedings on behalf of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The trial is expected to resume soon, with both parties preparing for the next phase of the legal battle.
