The treason trial of Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the convener of the #FixTheCountry movement, has been adjourned to May 20, 2024.
The case, which was expected to be heard today (Monday, May 13, 2024), was adjourned following the absence of the trial judge, Justice Mary Ekue Yanzuh.
The court was expected to hear the latest application filed by lawyers for the activist on a motion challenging the constitutionality of the charge proffered against him.
Mr Barker-Vormawor, who was fired up for Monday’s hearing, was left disappointed.
“We’ve come here; it’s been two years on trumped up charges by the regime security that they have always insisted that I wanted to overthrow this government. It is only an indictment of their record, their understanding that they have so badly led this country that every mindful citizen will want them out of office.
“We are committed to the rule of law and to the democracy that we have subscribed to. Ghanaians will show them the way out. I have zero interest in engaging in a coup d’état. We have always been clear that our advocacy and what we’re doing is entitled to engineer for the rest of Ghanaians the justice that our democracy procures,” he said.
The youth activist was arrested on February 11, 2022, following a post he made on social media to the effect that he would stage a coup himself if Parliament passed the controversial Electronic Levy (E-Levy) Bill.
“The post contained a clear statement of intent with a possible will to execute a coup in his declaration of intent to subvert the constitution of the Republic of Ghana,” a police statement dated February 12, 2022, signed by the then Director-General of Public Affairs, DCOP Kwesi Ofori said.
After his post, some Ghanaians who found his comments distasteful poured out on social media to call the Ghana Police Service to arrest him.
He was arraigned on Monday, February 14, 2022.
Mr Barker-Vormawor has since been charged with a treason felony, but he pleaded not guilty.