Coup plot: ACP Agodzor, 9 others trial set for January 21
The case in which a senior police officer, ACP Benjamin Agordzo, and nine others have been charged for allegedly plotting to destabilise the state is set for trial in January.
The commercial division of the Accra High Court has set January 21, 2020, to begin the trial of the accused persons including the Medical Director of the Citadel Hospital, Dr Frederick Yao Mac-Palm
The court also announced that it would conduct Case Management Conference (CMC) from January 13 to January 15, next year before the trial commences.
The purpose of the CMC is to identify the essential issues in the litigation and to avoid unnecessary, burdensome or duplicative discovery and other pre-trial procedures in the course of the trial.
At its last sitting, the court was yet to receive responses from persons selected to serve as jurors.
But on Friday, Justice Samuel Asiedu said the jurors will be empanelled on the date set for the commencement of the trial.
“The day we will empanel the jury is the same day the trial will start. If the accused persons are able, they may attend the CMC. If they are unable, their lawyers will represent them for the CMC.”
The court said, “The actual hearing of the case may commence on 21 January 2021” while urging the legal team to be present in court on the said date.
Background
By November, it would be one year since the high-ranking police officer, ACP Benjamin Agordzo, was charged with abetment to treason felony.
A medical doctor, Dr Frederick Yao Mac Palm, has also been accused of being one of the plot’s masterminds.
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 have been slapped with six separate charges including treason felony contrary to section 23 (1) and 182 (b) of the criminal and other offences Act, 1960.
Ghana’s treason charges carry the death sentence.
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. Charges, they have all pleaded not guilty to.
Dr McPalm and his alleged accomplices were arrested in September and accused of conspiring with Donya Kafui ((a local weapons manufacturer) and Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu of setting up a group seeking to radicalise young people against the government.
The government had in a statement signed and issued by the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said a stash of weapons and ammunition was found at the Citadel Hospital and a location near Dodowa, following 15 months of surveillance of the ringleaders and their activities.
The seized arsenal included six pistols, three smoke grenades, 22 IEDs, two AK47 magazines and one long knife, with a voice recorder, a pepper spray, tablets and a Ghanaian passport also among the list.
ACP Agbozo was arrested on November 4, 2019, for allegedly joining the group and providing funds for their activities.
He was granted bail on January 21, 2020.