Nine charged with treason over destabilisation plot

Nine out of the 11 persons accused of plotting to overthrow the government have been charged with treason.

They are Dr Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, a medical practitioner; Donya Kafui, alias Ezor, a blacksmith, Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu, a freight manager, Colonel Samuel Kojo Gameli Gershun Akpa, a civilian employee of the Armed Forces , WO2 Esther Saan, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Sylvester Akanbiri.

No charges were, however, preferred against Lance Corporal Albert Baba Ibrahim and Lance Coporal Godwin Nii Ankrah, who were previously part of the accused.

That was after the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Sylvester Asare, withdrew the three previous charge sheet presented in connection to the case presented to the Kaneshie District Court and presented a new one.

The nine accused persons are before the court for remand until committal proceedings which will determine whether the case should be tried at the High Court commences

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Alleged plot

Presenting the facts, ASP Asare told the court that  the nine persons were part of group known as Take Action Ghana (TAG) which was founded by Dr Mac-Palm.

The group, he said, planned to organise a series of demonstrations, topple the government and destabilise the country.

According to him, Dr Mac- Palm convinced Akpa , a weapon mechanic of the Ghana Armed Forces to provide the group with two AK 47 assault rifles to the group.

He said Apka charged Gh₵7,000 each for the rifles and Dr Mac- Palm  paid an initial deposit of Gh₵2,000.

This deal, he said, could not materialize due pressure from Dr Mac -Palm for the weapons to be delivered quickly.

He further said Dr Mac- Palm convinced that he other soldiers named on the charge sheet to join the plot.

According to the prosecutor, in July 2019, the group engaged the services of Kafui, a blacksmith from the Volta Region, to manufacture arms to enable them to complete their objectives.

Kafui, he explained, charged the group GH¢2,300 for each pistol and GH¢400 for each explosive.

ASP Asare said the blacksmith was brought to the Citadel Hospital in Alajo, Accra to manufacture the arms.

He said Kafui was able to manufacture 22 explosives, six pistols, three hand grenades and some ammunition which he handed over to Dr Mac-Palm, whom he described as the alleged leader of the group.

The prosecutor said based on intelligence, security operatives, on September 23, this year, arrested members.

Remand changed

The court, Rosemond Duodua Agyiri, changed the remand custody of the accused from the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to police and military custody.

That was after the defence lawyers informed the court that the BNI has failed to allow them to see the accused in-spite of the express orders from the court.

Per the new remand order, the civilians are to be placed in police custody while the soldiers are to be placed in military custody.

Hearing continues on October 28, 2019