The prosecution in the trial of 10 persons put before an Accra High Court for allegedly attempting to usurp the executive powers of the state through a coup d’état is set to call its first witness on February 16, 2021.
The trial commenced yesterday after the court presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, a court of appeal judge sitting with additional responsibilities, successfully empanelled a seven-member jury to hear the case.
The 10, made up of soldiers, a senior police officer and civilians, were before the court for five counts of treason felony, abetment of crime and possession of explosives, firearm and ammunitions.
Eight out of the total number of persons provided by the registrar of the court were rejected by some of the accused persons.
Dr. Frederick Yaw Mac-Palm, suspected to be the ‘architect’ behind the alleged coup plot, and another accused person, Donya Kafui, both rejected three potential jurors, while another accused, Bright Alan Debrah, rejected two of them.
Filing Exhibits
The Attorney General’s (AG) Department has already filed a plethora of documents and exhibits as part of disclosures as ordered by the court.
The exhibits earlier filed included 72 live ammunitions, seven locally manufactured gun barrels, a foreign pistol, a revolver pistol, three locally manufactured gun barrels, 22 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and three smoke grenades among others.
The AG’s Department had also filed additional exhibits, which included mobiles phones which were allegedly distributed to some of the accused persons as well as prospective witnesses in the matter, to aid with their communications.
Opening Statement
The prosecution led by Hilda Craig, a Senior State Attorney, in her opening statement to the court, stated that the onus was on the prosecution to prove the charges leveled against the accused person and they were ready to do so.
She indicated that the prosecution would be calling 19 witnesses to testify as well as rely on video documentaries, audio recordings and exhibits to prove their case.
Accused Persons
The 10 people on trial are Dr. Frederick Mac-Palm; Donya Kafui, aka Ezor, a local weapon manufacturer (blacksmith) from Alavanyo; Bright Allan DebrahOfosu, aka BB; Col. Samuel Kojo Gameli; Lance Corporal Ali Solomon; Lance Corporal Sylvester Akapewu; Lance Corporal Seidu Abubakar; and Johannes Zikpi, a civilian employee with the Ghana Armed Forces who have all been charged.
The two other accused persons are ASP Dr. Benjamin Agordzo and WO II Esther Saan, aka Mama Gee.
Charges
Together, they are facing five counts of treason felony, conspiracy, treason, abetment of treason felony and possession of explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse.
Allegations
They are said to have held discussions on whether or not to kill the President once their alleged coup plot succeeds.
They are also alleged to have planned to acquire electronic equipment solely for the purpose of jamming the National Communications Authority’s system to render all broadcasting stations except the state broadcaster useless.
Beyond the killing plot, the prosecution alleged that the accused persons had discussions towards capturing top public officials.
Again, the accused are said to have procured weapons and test-fired same and contracted persons to manufacture grenades and pistols among other dangerous weapons.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak