The 18 fishermen, including a 14-year-old boy, who were arrested at Prampram for engaging in illegal fishing, would re-appear before Tema Circuit Court ‘B’, on December 9, 2019.
The adjournment would enable counsel for accused, Mr Adomako Acheampong, meet officials of the Fisheries Commission to discuss a date to commence an arbitration.
When the case was called, Mr Acheampong was not in court, but his representative told the court that they had written to the Fisheries Commission indicating their desire to settle the case at arbitration, and the Commission had invited them to a meeting to discuss the matter.
The court, presided by Ms Cynthia Owiredu, therefore, adjourned the case to December 9.
The suspects are David Kwameh, Ayem Acquah, Joshua Annor, Ishmael Ayitey, Mustapha Lamptey, Joseph Ashieley and Jonathan Commodore.
Others are Paul Kakra, Joseph Quaye, Isaac Commodore, Adjei Ashieley, Kofi Krah and NuerteyAduma.
The rest are Lartey Ashieley, Armah Tetteh, Francis Lamptey, Odartey Lamptey and AshieleyArmah.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Jacob Asomani, told the court that the complainant in the case is Mr Emmanuel Amevor, an official of the Fisheries Commission, in Tema.
He said accused were arrested at sea at Prampram on November 9, 2019, for allegedly engaging in prohibited methods of fishing, during an exercise by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Fisheries Enforcement Unit.
Prosecution said accused were allegedly using high intensity bulbs to fish in their canoes, and the law enforcement agency seized four canoes, nine generators, and eight high intensity bulbs.
FROM GODFRED BLAY GIBBAH, TEMA
