The High Court has acquitted Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Agordzo, Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, and Corporal Seidu Abubakar in the alleged coup plotters saga.
Six others have however been convicted for counts of conspiracy to commit high treason and committing high treason.
The six convicted for plotting a coup have been sentenced to death by hanging.
The Six persons including three soldiers are; Donya Kafui, aka Ezor (a blacksmith) and Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu (a fleet manager), were found guilty of conspiracy to commit treason and treason, while Johannes Zikpi (a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces) was found guilty of conspiracy to commit high treason.
The three soldiers – Warrant Officer II Esther Saan Dekuwine, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit high treason.
The judgment date for Wednesday was orginally set for November 22, 2023, following the submissions of all parties.
Dr. Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, the Chief Executive Officer of Citadel Hospital (now deceased) and ACP Dr. Agordzo together with eight others were charged variously on April 24, 2021, for conspiracy to high treason, abetment to high treason and high treason.
Dr Mac Palm (A1- now Deceased), Donya Kafui alias Ezor (A2), Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu alias Bright Alan Yeboah (A3), Yohannes Zikpi (A4), Warrant Officer Class Two Esther Saan Dekuwine (A6), Cpl Seidu Abubakar (A7), Lance Corporal Ali Solomon (A8) and Cpl Sylvester Akanpewon (A9) were charged for conspiracy to commit high and high treason.
Col. Samuel Kodzo Gameli (A5) and ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo (A10) have each been charged for abetment.
All 10 accused (then) pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail while standing trial.
However, following the death of Dr Mac-Palm (A1) who was then in the witness box giving testimony, his evidence was deleted from the records after his passing away was confirmed to the Court.
AG’s team
The prosecution, led by AG Godfred Yeboah Dame, included Mrs. Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecution, Hilda Craig, a Principal State Attorney (PSA), Winifred Sarpong, PSA, Ms. Lawrencia Adika, State Attorney, and Akosua Agyapomaa Agyemang, Assistant State Attorney, among others.
Defence lawyers
Bright Allan Debrah Fosu, the third accused, was defended by Ms. Rita Akukunti Ali, a Legal Aid lawyer, Osei Kwabena, and Linda Elikem Mensah.
Lawyer Victor Kodjogah Adawudu represented Donya Kafui alias Ezor (A2), CPL Seidu Abubakar (A7), LAC Ali Solomon (A8), and CPL Sylvester Akanpewon (A9), while Col. Samuel Kodzo Gamelie, the fourth accused, is represented by Anthony Lartey and Eric Kpongo.
Lamptiig Apanga and Matthias Yir-Eru are the lawyers for Esther Saan Dekuwine, the sixth accused. Lawyer Kormivi Dzotsi, led by Martin Kpebu, defends ACP Benjamin Agordzo, the tenth accused, while Lawyer Ephraim A. Vordoagu and Lawyer Maud Opoku represented Dr. Mac-Palm until his death. They were released after the court was properly notified of their client’s death.
Court panel
The three-member panel of judges are Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, Justice Hafisata Amaleboba and Justice Stephen Oppong, all three are Justices of the Court of Appeal sitting as additional High Court judges.
Justice Asare-Botwe is the President of the panel.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
