Delta Force invasion of court indefensible – NPP Chairman

Acting national chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a former deputy Speaker of Parliament, Freddy Blay has condemned the invasion of a circuit court in Kumasi Thursday by members of the Delta Force vigilantes.

The invasion led to a melee in the courtroom during which 13 accused persons standing trial for forcibly ejecting the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator from office, escaped.  All of them however, have turned themselves in to the police.

Mr Blay who was speaking with Joy FM in Accra, said what the group did is an illegality that cannot be defended and that all the culprits should turn themselves in to the police.

Describing the forceful invasion of the courtroom as regrettable and unfortunate, Mr Blay said the law should be allowed to take its course, saying the NPP does not endorse the lawlessness that ensued on Thursday and the party was sorry that its members engaged in that conduct.

He apologised on behalf of the party, to the public, the judiciary and all affected by the conduct and said the party dissociate itself from the acts.

Asked if he would support calls to disband groupings such as the Delta Force and Invisible Forces, Mr Blay said these are individual members of the party who have formed their own associations away from party structures and it was not the place of the party to disband such associations.

Rather, he said, if any member of the party engages in any lawlessness, it should be the duty of the law enforcement agencies to apply the law.