The Adentan Circuit Court on Tuesday, 18 January 2022, issued a warrant for the arrest of Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Mark Okraku Mantey.

The court issued the warrant following Mr Mantey’s failure to appear before it on the scheduled date.  

The deputy minister and his lawyer failed to appear before the court to continue the completion of the case management conference for the commencement of trial.

Mr Mantey’s lawyer, however, sought the permission of the court for his inability to appear.

According to the prosecution, the deputy minister gained access to a parcel of land owned by a man, Alhaji Tony Baba, forcibly.

He has, therefore, been charged for allegedly violating Sections 7 (1) and (2) of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act.

The Prosecutor, Superintendent of Police Patience Mario, prayed the court to issue the warrant.

Presiding judge Sedinam Awo Balokah issued the warrant and adjourned the case to Tuesday, 8 February 2022.

In March 2021, the deputy minister visited the site with three “thugs.”

Two of them were on a motorbike while the other was in his vehicle.

According to the Prosecution, on Wednesday, 3 March 2021, the deputy minister visited the site again for a few hours after which the “thugs”, who had accompanied him on the previous visit, went back to attack some workers on the site.

They allegedly caused damage to parts of the building.

The complainant then reported the matter to the police.

He also mentioned the deputy minister as the person behind the attacks and damages.