Six Coup Plotters Sentenced To Death By Hanging ACP Agordzo Aquitted And Discharged

Six out of the nine people who were standing trial for planning to stage a coup have been sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court in Accra.

This was after the three-member panel presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe found them guilty on the charges of conspiracy to commit treason and high treason.

They are Donya Kafui, aka Ezor; (blacksmith) Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu, aka Bright Alan Yeboah; (fleet manager) Lance Corporal Ali Solomon; Lance Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon; WO II Esther Saan Dekuwine, aka Mama Gee; and Johannes Zikpi.

However, ACP Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, Col. Samuel Kodjo Gameli, and Corporal Seidu Abubakar have been acquitted and discharged.

ACP Dr. Benjamin Agordzo and Col. Samuel Kodzo were found innocent on the charge of abetment.

Corporal Seidu Abubakar on the other hand was found innocent on the charge of conspiracy and high treason. The court held that, the Prosecution did not give enough evidence to prove their guilt.

The court on the other hand found the six accused persons now convicts as follows Donya Kafui (blacksmith) guilty on the counts of conspiracy to commit treason and high treason, Bright Alan Debrah (fleet manager) was also found guilty on both counts.

The others Johannes Zikpi, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon was found guilty on conspiracy to commit high treason . Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon and WOII Esther Saan Dekuwine both soldiers were found guilty on conspiracy to commit high treason.

The judgment date was fixed on November 22, 2023, after the parties informed the court that, they had all filed their written submissions.

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 treason and high treason.

Col. Samuel Kodzo Gameli (A5) and ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo (A10) were charged for abetment.

They were members of a non-governmental organisation, Take Action Ghana (TAG), formed by the late Dr. Frederick Mac-Palm.

Dr. Frederick MacPalm, who was the first accused and the brain behind the plot, was pronounced dead in March 2023, and was removed from the case.Philipa Atanga/Court Reporter/Despite Media