Ofosu Ampofo
Chief Inspector Bernard Berko, the investigator in the trial of the National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and a Communication Officer of the party, Kwaku Boahen, has insisted that the two had hatched a plan to put the lives of others in danger.
The investigator, who is the prosecution’s third and final witness, while under cross-examination by Tony Lithur, counsel for Mr. Ampofo, insisted that the two accused persons during a meeting where the leaked tape for which the two are standing trial, had plotted to cause harm to some other people.
Ofosu-Ampofo has been charged with one count of conspiracy to cause harm and two counts of assault against a public officer, while Kwaku Boahen is facing one count of conspiracy to cause harm.
They have both been granted bail of GH¢100,000, with one surety each.
Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo and one of the party’s leading communicators, Kwaku Boahen, are on trial over the audio recording containing the chilling strategies the NDC allegedly intended to use for the 2020 elections – one being the kidnappings of family members of political opponents.
Per the prosecution’s facts, they had planned to commit crimes in the country and turn round to blame them on the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the run up to the 2020 general election which the NDC lost.
Mr. Lithur had asked the investigator whether he at any point saw or heard Mr. Boahen plotting against any person, and he said the accused in an open interview said he was part of the meeting when the statement was made and he totally supports what Ampofo had said.
The lawyer then asked the witness what he meant by a plot, and Chief Inspector Berko said “the plan to cause harm to some other people, the plan to take the Chair of the Electoral Commission and Peace Council to the cleaners.”
“You have exhibited the transcript of the meeting at which you said the plot was hatched as exhibit D. Is it your case that at that meeting a plot was actually hatched?” the lawyer asked.
“My Lord, it was the said meeting that they planned to put others’ life in danger and also to take the Chair of the EC and the Peace Council to the cleaners, was made.
“So if I understand you, you have no evidence whatsoever that either A1 or A2 had hatched such a plan prior to the meeting,” Mr. Lithur asked and the witness said no.
The lawyer also asked the witness that he had no evidence that the accused persons had planned to meet at that meeting and he said no.
“It would be safe therefore, to say that your reason for saying that A1 and A2 had hatched the plot you claim was among others that they were in the same room on that day”, the lawyer queried and the witness said “it was in that meeting that the plan was made.”
Mr. Lithur then asked the investigator whether from his own exhibits or any investigation he might have conducted, Mr. Boahen spoke at the meeting which he claimed the plot was hatched.
“I did not hear him speak but that does not mean if you’re in support of the plot to commit crime you cannot be charged for court,” Chief Inspector Berko responded.
The case has been adjourned to March 16 for further cross-examination of the investigator.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak