The trial of Glorious Word Power Ministries International Leader Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah, and three others is set to continue in January, 2022.
This was after state prosecution successfully filed and served on all the accused persons the necessary disclosures and witness statements it intends to rely on for the trial.
The defence team confirmed that they had indeed been served with all the necessary documents.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Dennis Terpketey subsequently informed the court that the team is ready to call their first witness in the person of Okaija Welbeck Dauda, a police officer.
With the latest development, the Circuit Court presided over by Mrs Rosemond Baah Torsu fixed January 19, 2022, for the commencement of the trial.
Rev Owusu Bempah together with Michael Boateng, Frederick Ohene and Nathaniel Agyekum have all pleaded not guilty to two charges each of abetment to cause harm and unlawful damage.
They have since been granted a GHC100,000 bail.
Facts of the case presented in court
Chief Inspector Dennis Terkpetey who read the facts indicated that the complainant was Evangelist Patricia Oduro Koranteng, also known as, Nana Agradaa.
On September 9, this year, at about 5:30 pm, the New Weija Police District Command received a distress call from Godfred Antwi of House number 36, Atta Mills Road, Aplaku, a suburb of Weija that at about 3:30 pm same day, Owusu Bempah in the company of about 45 well-built men besieged the Thunder Plaza at Weija belonging to the complainant to attack her.
The prosecution said since Owusu Bempah and the men did not meet the complainant at her residence, they proceeded to the complainant’s second house at New Aplaku and threatened her with words to wit: “We will kill you.”
The police visited the scene and saw the men holding cutlasses and other offensive weapons shouting amidst insults at the house.
Eight vehicles and motorbikes were also parked on the street in front of the complainant’s house.
Chief Inspector Terkpetey said Owusu Bempah was also seen seated in a black Toyota Land Cruiser instructing and urging the men to move into the house of the complainant and bring her out.
The situation was however brought under control and the complainant and Owusu Bempah were invited to the Police Station.
Per the facts, Owusu Bempah ignored the police and drove off with his men.
The Weija Police Divisional Command officially wrote to Owusu Bempah to report to assist in investigations but he refused to accept the letter.
On September 12, this year, the police identified some of the young men, including Mensah Ofori, an Associate Pastor of Owusu Bempah’s church as two of the people in a viral video threatening the complainant and brandishing a pistol.
Police officers on board Toyota Corolla with registration number NR 9602-20 visited the church of Owusu Bempah to arrest Mensah Ofori.
Another team of policemen in plain clothes also went to arrest Mensah Ofori, Berchie, Boateng, and Ohene at the Dansoman Police Station.
But Owusu Bempah, after spotting the police, ordered his church members to “beat and kill” them.
The prosecution narrated that the church members beat up the officers amidst the firing of gunshots, disarmed the police with two service rifles, and vandalised the vehicle the police were using.
Owusu Bempah is also said to have ordered his church members to march to the Dansoman Police Station to free Mensah Ofori, Boateng, and Ohene.
In the process, two policemen got injured.