Obengfo ‘Freedom’ Hangs

An Accra High Court has set June 27 to deliver its ruling on a bail application filed by Lawyers of Dr. Dominic Kwame Obeng-Andoh, the embattled Medical officer of the Obengfo Hospital in Accra.

The court presided over by Justice Kofi Dorgu set the date yesterday after both had argued for and against the motion.

The decision of the court would determine whether or not Obeng-Andoh who had been in police custody would be bailed.

The accused persons have been dragged before An Accra Central District Court over the death of Stacy Offei Darko, 37, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Entrepreneurship Innovative Programme (NEIP) at the Jubilee House.

According to the police, the accused on May 21 this year caused the death of the NEIP Deputy CEO at Weija in Accra.

Also, in the dock with Obeng-Andoh, 49 is one Edward Amponsah, 46, a cleaner for impersonation.

In moving the motion for bail Jonathan Daisu lawyer for the accused persons said his clients are law abiding citizens who were invited by the police for questioning.

He noted that having been invited on May 24 this year, the two were arrested and charged with murder and impersonation respectively.

The lawyer argued that Obeng-Andoh is a medical officer who has been practicing for more than 20 years at Korle-Bu in Accra and Bator in the Volta Region indicating that due to his (Obeng-Andoh’s) good practice he established a hospital where the deceased had been a client at the hospital since 2014.

Jonathan indicated that the deceased went for surgery last year but returned in 2018 following the earlier successful surgery in 2017.

The lawyer said the police have contacted all the necessary persons in the investigation and that the autopsy has also been conducted.

He stated that considering the frail health of Obeng-Andoh, the judge at the District Court mentioned that the accused should be allowed to seek medical care insisting the accused persons must be granted bail.

The court further heard that Obeng-Andoh employs over one hundred persons whose livelihoods are at stake.

Jonathan claimed that even though the facts of the case have been skewed so much, same does not support the charges, stressing that “the sun will not set on Justice; my lord should grant the bail.”

Ashong Okine, a State Attorney said the AG vehemently opposed the bail application reminding the court that Obeng-Andoh performed the surgery on the deceased.

He contended that the application for bail is premature because investigation is still ongoing.

The State Attorney said if the accused persons are admitted to bail, they may interfere with the evidence and witnesses.

He stated that all the witnesses are employees of Obeng-Andoh who could influence them.

Okine alleged that Obeng-Andoh could commit another offence because the hospital where the death took place is still operating

“My lord, we know you the power to grant the reliefs they are seeking but it has to be done Judiciously…We want investigation to complete” the State Attorney said.

He hinted that the police are investigating the role of Edward by taking instructions from Obeng-Andoh.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson