ACP Agordzo, 9 others slapped with fresh charges of high treason
High-ranking police officer ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo and nine others on trial over a coup plot since 2020 have been re-arrested and arraigned.
This time, they have been charged with high treason and conspiracy to commit high treason, an offence that carries a punishment of death.
They were re-arrested on Friday, April 23, and put before an Accra High Court on Saturday, April 24.
They have been arraigned for their respective role in an alleged case of destabilising the State.
The nine others are Dr Mac Palm, Donyo Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah, Johannes Zikpi, WO II Esther Saan, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Corporal Ali Solomon and Sylvester Akankpewu.
Dr Benjamin Agordzo is alleged to have assisted the leader of the alleged coup plotters, Dr Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, and some eight others in connection with the Take Action Ghana (TAG) group, which the State claims have devised a detailed plot to destabilize the county.
However, he had denied the accusation levelled against him, insisting he was “speaking his mind” on the WhatsApp page created by the group.
At the hearing in court, Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame said his office submitted fresh charges that carry severe sentencing.
The State is dropping the previous charges of treason felony.
According to him, the accused persons had drawn detailed plans between June 2018 and September 2019 to oust the President and possibly have him eliminated.
As part of the plans, they targeted state assets, jamming media frequencies, and capturing stated broadcaster GBC.
Mr Dame said the accused had procured guns and ammunitions to aid their quest.
Prosecution’s facts
The facts of the case were that TAG plotted to destabilise the country and overthrow the government.
As part of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm, who is accused of being the mastermind of the plot, Kafui and Debrah planned on kidnapping the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief of the Defence Staff and force the President to announce his overthrow.
In furtherance of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm invited Kafui, who was a blacksmith at Alavanyo, to Accra to manufacture explosives and pistols for the group.
With regard to ACP Dr Agordzo, he is said to have donated GH¢2,000 to TAG to aid its cause and also drafted a speech for Dr Mac-Palm to be read at the planned demonstration by TAG.