COVID-19: Six Nigerians Arrested, Fined $15,150 For Attending Birthday Party During Lockdown

Six Nigerians have been arrested and fined $15,150 by an Accra Circuit Court for defying ban on social gatherings owing to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Ghana.

According to Ghanaweb, six Nigerians were prosecuted for attending a birthday party at Teshie, First Junction, violating the lockdown order of President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The convicts – Amadi Mine, Precious Aboy-Iyen, Marshal Oviegjare, Godsway Fejiro, Elliot Sharker, and David Amos – were fined GHC14,400 each or in default serve a five-year jail term.

According to the prosecutors, the six were part of a group of about 50 people, who attended the said party on Saturday, April 18, 2020.

The police, upon a tip-off, stormed the venue and managed to arrest the six people, who took to their heels alongside those at the party.

According to the police, the convicts breached the restriction orders imposed by the President.

The convicts all pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy not to comply with restrictions imposed by the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012) and failure to comply with Act 1012.

The court presided by Efia Owusua Appiah in handing them her judgement, indicated that her decision was to serve as a deterrent to other people.

Meanwhile, Ghana has now lifted the 21-days coronavirus lockdown imposed in some parts of the country, but other restrictions such as school closures and a ban on sport and religious meetings still remain in place.