Agordzor, nine others face coup plot trial June 8
The trial in which senior police officer ACP Benjamin Agordzor and nine others have been slapped with coup charges is set to commence on June 8, as the state calls 19 witnesses.
This was made known by the three member panel presided by Justice Afia Serwah Asare Botwe, after a Case Management Conference on Tuesday, June 1.
They were arraigned for their respective role in an alleged case of destabilising the state, a charge they all pleaded not guilty to.
They were granted bail in the sum of GH₵2 million with two sureties to be justified.
As part of their bail conditions, they must report to the Director of National Intelligence Bureau on Mondays and Thursdays.
They were also asked to deposit their passports to the court registry.
Background
It has been over a year since the high-ranking police officer, ACP Benjamin Agodzor, was charged with abetment to treason felony.
A medical doctor, Dr Frederick Yao Mac Palm, has been accused of being the plot’s mastermind.
The eight other accused persons are Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, Johannes Zikpi, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon and Corporal Slyvester Akanpewon.
The accused persons were earlier slapped with six separate charges, including treason felony contrary to section 23 (1) and 182 (b) of the criminal and other offences Act, 1960.
Dr Mac-Palm, Dornyor Kafui, Allan Debrah Ofosu, Dekuwine, Abubakar, L/Cpl Akanpewon and Zikpi are on charges of conspiracy to commit treason felony and treason felony.
Dr Mac-Palm and Kafui have been separately charged with conspiracy to possess explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse and possession of explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse.
Col Gameli and ACP Dr Agordzo have been charged with abetment to treason felony.
Alleged Coup Plot
In June 2018, security agencies arrested members of the ‘Take Action Ghana’ for an “elaborate plot targeted at the Presidency”.
As part of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm, who is accused of being the mastermind of the plot, Kafui and Debrah planned on kidnapping the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief of the Defence Staff and force the President to announce his overthrow.
In furtherance of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm invited Kafui, who was a blacksmith at Alavanyo, to Accra to manufacture explosives and pistols for the group.
With regard to ACP Dr Agordzo, he is said to have donated GH¢2,000 to TAG to aid its cause and also drafted a speech for Dr Mac-Palm to be read at the planned demonstration by TAG.