GNAT secures bail for jailed Daniel Hammond

MR. Daniel Hammond, a teacher at Ekumfi Otabanadze in the Central Region who was jailed for allegedly insulting the DCE for the Ekumfi District Assembly has been granted bail.

The bail was secured by the Central Regional branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the family of the embattled teacher at Ekumfi Essarkyir Magistrate Court on Thursday.

Mr. Hammond, who is also a former presiding member of Ekumfi District was arrested last Friday by the Ekumfi Essarkyir police for allegedly insulting the DCE for the area Ibrahim Kwaku Dawson.

He was charged for offensive conduct and processed for court on Tuesday, March 8, 2016.

A statement issued by the Regional Secretary of GNAT, Boadu Abedi Williams on Wednesday described the arrest and subsequent incarceration of Mr. Hammond as shocking.

“We consider his arrest and incarceration as a real show of intimidation and abuse of power on the part of the DCE of Ekumfi District in the central region Ibrahim Kweku Dawson, chairman of DISEC, who according to the report ordered his arrest and also directed that the teacher be tried at Ajumako instead of Essarkyir where he was arrested.”

The statement noted that the show of where power lies in this time of our country’s democracy is considered inferior.

According to the statement, Mr. Hammond was only expressing his opinion on what he sees as discrepancies of facts and must therefore not be made to go through this inhuman treatment.

“We are therefore calling for the unconditional release of Mr. Daniel Hammond from police custody. This will allay the fear and displeasure among teachers in the district.”

The statement further called on the Chief Justice to investigate the circumstances that led to the trial and incarceration of Daniel Hammond at Ajumako instead of Essarkyir where he was arrested.

“The leadership will find it difficult to restrain our teachers in that district who will lay down their tools in solidarity with their incarcerated colleague,” it added.

Story by: Michael creg Afful

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