Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr. Benjamin Agordzor, who is being detained over his alleged role in the alleged coup plot, believes he is being persecuted for his outspokenness, his lawyer has said.
According to Martin Kpebu, the reasons his client is being held by the Bureau of National Investigations BNI are weak.
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“Essentially, they are holding him over WhatsApp messages. The fact that he was giving advice on lawful means of holding a demonstration and donating towards a philanthropic course. They also say he said conditions for Arab spring are rife in Ghana, this something that most commentators on various issues have one point said before,” he told Accra based Starr Fm on Tuesday.
He added, ” My client sees the case as a witch-hunt and persecution over his outspokenness. The way he spoke out at the IDEG event about how the police is not independent and the political interference in the service. This is not something he should be detained. He sees this case as a witch hunt, as persecution. At the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) event, he had said the police is not independent.
Mr. Agordzor has been charged with abatement for treason by the state after he was invited for questioning on Monday. He is currently in detention at the BNI.
Already, senior military officer, Colonel Samuel Kojo Gameli and a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces Gershun Akpa, have been charged for their role in what the government describes as an “elaborate plot targeted at the Presidency.”
State Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Asare told the Kaneshie District Court that the serving soldiers were members of the ‘Take Action Ghana,’ a group of which Dr. Frederick Yao Mac-Palm is the leader.
According to him, they planned to engage in several demonstrations aimed at overthrowing the government.
ASP Asare disclosed that the suspects contracted one other person already in custody to produce explosives and guns at the Citadel Hospital.
The prosecution further revealed that GH¢2,300.00, was paid for six pistols while GH¢400.00 has since been paid for some explosives.
Meanwhile, lawyers of the nine persons who have been charged with treason felony have accused the military High Command of invasion of privacy.
According to the lawyers, who have some of their clients with the Ghana Armed Forces remanded at the Military custody, anytime they have conferences with them, persons with the Defence Intelligence Unit sit-in and record their private conversation.
Lawyer Kodjogah Adawudu made this known to the Kaneshie District Court presided over by Her Worship Mrs. Eleanor Botwe when the case was called on Monday, October 28.
ASP Sylvester Asare, the prosecutor in the matter, on his part said nothing of that sought has come to his attention.
He, however, assured the court that he would liaise with his colleagues at the GAF to make sure the right thing is done and report back to the court.
