Hopeson Adley arrives at court on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
A former member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who defected to the Movement for Change, Hopeson Adrianhas turned around allegations that he used dynamite to intimidate voters in the Volta Region during the 2016 elections.
Adrie said he would have preferred to have used firecrackers instead.
Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder outlined the incident and told the court that on May 2, 2024, a video recording which was circulated on social media was brought to the attention of police officers.
He explained that the video shows the defendant saying that he tried to stop Togolese people from coming to vote in Ghana ahead of the 2016 general elections.
The statement was made on Accra FM, an Accra-based radio station.
In an investigative caution statement, he acknowledged the contents of the video but claimed that “firecrackers” and not “dynamite” had been used.
Mr Adrier was charged with publishing false news, contrary to Section 208(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).
He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday at the Dansoman Circuit Court presided over by Chief Justice Alima El Rawa Basit and was granted bail of 20,000 cedis.
The defendant was also ordered to post bail with two sureties, one of which must be a legitimate surety, and to report to the police station once a week.
Adrie was arrested 20 days after making the remarks.
The court hearing was attended by members of the Movement for Change including Patricia Christabel Kyeremateng, wife of founder Allan Kwadwo Kyeremateng.
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