Arrest of 6 soldiers in 'coup' plot, Attorney General must provide evidence of their involvement - Effah-Dartey

An ex-soldier and a lawyer for one of the six arrested soldiers for the attempted coup, Nkrabea Effah-Dartey has asked the Attorney General to provide evidence of the involvement of his client in the alleged Jubilee House takeover.

According to Nkrabea Effah-Dartey, Ghana has “survived over 20 years of [continous] constitutional and democratic rule” and he doesn’t believe a coup can be successfully executed.

“I cannot appreciate a situation where anybody in his right senses will think he can successfully destabilise Ghana."

Effah-Dartey’s comment comes in the midst of the government’s row with some military personnel, a doctor and other accomplices who have been accused of a conspiracy to destabilise the state.

READ ALSO: Alleged Jubilee House takeover: 'Coup' plotters intended to kidnap Akufo-Addo and Bawumia - Kweku Baako

They have been arraigned before the court on charges including unlawful manufacture of guns.

Effah-Dartey who represents one of the accused soldiers says the officer is “emotionally suffering because…he is absolutely and completely innocent.”

“His father was an NPP Chairman so his commitment to the governing NPP administration is without question,” Effah-Dartey said.

The six arrested soldiers are Seidu Abubakar, lance corporal Ali Solomon, Albert Baba Ibrahim, Godwin Nii Ankrah, Sylvester Kpebu, WO2 Esther

The six have been charged with unlawful possession of explosives, arms, and ammunition without lawful authority.

The case has been adjourned to October 9, 2019.

Last week a senior military officer, Colonel Senyo Gameli and a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces, Gershon Akpa were also in court but were remanded.

READ ALSO: Security analyst justifies social media mockery of alleged Jubilee House takeover

The two men who were in court today, September 27 were charged with unlawful possession of explosives, firearms and ammunitions are alleged to have worked with the other three suspects, Managing Director of Citadel Hospital, Dr. Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, Donya Kafui (a local weapon manufacturer) and Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu.

Background

A government press statement issued by Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on Monday, 23 September 2019, said: “A joint security operation of personnel drawn from Defence Intelligence, CID and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), conducted a successful operation which led to the arrest of three persons and the retrieval of several arms, explosive devices, and ammunition from locations in Accra”.

The release explained that surveillance on the activities of the persons involved commenced in June 2018, when Dr. Mac-Palm and Mr. Ofosu started organising a series of meetings at the Next-Door Beach Resort, Teshie, and other locations in Accra, in furtherance of their objectives.

The minister’s statement said: “…Between June and August 2018, BB, acting for and on behalf of Dr. Mac-Palm, contacted a number of serving military personnel, and talked them into hatching and executing a plot to obtain weapons, take over key installations, and secure funding for the purpose of taking over the reins of government. These meetings were closely monitored”.

Again, the statement said in August 2018, Dr Mac-Palm and two others, Kennedy Amoah and Dr Albert Sam (based in the USA), formed a group called ‘Take Action Ghana” (TAG) “under the guise of mobilising the youth for nation-building, education, health, and providing shelter to the needy”.

Mr. Nkrumah said: “Evidence available shows the intent was to build a support base of youth and radicalise them against the political authority in Ghana”.

“In furtherance of this scheme, Dr. Mac-Palm contracted one Mr. Ezor from Alavanyo to produce locally made weapons and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) for the operation. In July 2019, Mr. Ezor set up a workshop in a container, originally used as an X-Ray laboratory, at the premises of Citadel Hospital, and started producing the weapons and IEDs in-house.

“On 10 September 2019, Dr. Mac-Palm and Mr. Ezor procured from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, some essential chemicals to be mixed with gun powder, stone chippings, surgical needles and powdered pepper for their operations. He also contracted a worker at the Base Workshop in Burma Camp to supply 10 AK-47 rifles. He made an advance payment of GHS7,000.00.