Accra, (Greater Accra) 30 Oct., Lance-Corporal Emmanuel Amoah, first prosecution witness in the case in which five persons are charged with treason, said today the coup plotters planned to attack homes of prominent people including the First Lady. The witness, who concluded his evidence in chief today, said the first accused, Alex Offei, told him that those prominent people had huge state funds hidden in their homes which the plotters would retrieve. L/cpl. Amoah said Offei gave the names of those to be attacked as the Governor of the Bank of Ghana and Captain Kojo Tsikata, a member of the Council of State and former security adviser to the government. Led in evidence by Mr. J.C. Amonoo-Monney, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), witness said the day of the coup was changed from August 31 to September two, 1994. He said the change of the date was to enable one of the soldiers recruited by the accused persons, L/cpl. Tangui Nsini, another witness, to go to his home town to perform some rituals in the interest of the operation. The other accused persons are: Kwame Ofori Appiah, a cleaner, Sylvester Addai Dwomoh, a teacher, John Owusu Boakye, a student, formerly resident in London and Emmanuel Osei Kofi, a driver. They have all pleaded not guilty and are in prison custody. L/cpl. Amoah said as a sign of agreement on the D-day, Appiah asked that ''all the coup plotters seal their final consent by putting their hands together.'' Witness said Major Oppong Addai, the alleged coup leader, left them when the date was changed because of Cpl. Tangui's request. He said when he further asked of Capt Owoo, Appiah, one of the leader's of the coup plotters, said Capt Owoo had gone and that he would take over the Castle. Witness said the other accused persons introduced Osei Kofi to him as the one who was ''driving the other coup plotters to and from outside Ghana''. L/cpl. Amoah said ''I reported whatever transpired between the plotters and soldiers to the authorities.'' He said they were at the hotel when all of them including the accused persons were arrested. Cross-examined by Mr. Nyamekye Baah, counsel for Offei, witness said it was not rpt not unfair for him to accept gifts from the accused and later report them to the authorities. Witness said he returned all monies received from the accused persons to the authorities and that it was the authorities who asked that the day of the coup be changed to September two. Hearing continues on Tuesday. November four.
Accra, (Greater Accra) 30 Oct., Lance-Corporal Emmanuel Amoah, first prosecution witness in the case in which five persons are charged with treason, said today the coup plotters planned to attack homes of prominent people including the First Lady. The witness, who concluded his evidence in chief today, said the first accused, Alex Offei, told him that those prominent people had huge state funds hidden in their homes which the plotters would retrieve. L/cpl. Amoah said Offei gave the names of those to be attacked as the Governor of the Bank of Ghana and Captain Kojo Tsikata, a member of the Council of State and former security adviser to the government. Led in evidence by Mr. J.C. Amonoo-Monney, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), witness said the day of the coup was changed from August 31 to September two, 1994. He said the change of the date was to enable one of the soldiers recruited by the accused persons, L/cpl. Tangui Nsini, another witness, to go to his home town to perform some rituals in the interest of the operation. The other accused persons are: Kwame Ofori Appiah, a cleaner, Sylvester Addai Dwomoh, a teacher, John Owusu Boakye, a student, formerly resident in London and Emmanuel Osei Kofi, a driver. They have all pleaded not guilty and are in prison custody. L/cpl. Amoah said as a sign of agreement on the D-day, Appiah asked that ''all the coup plotters seal their final consent by putting their hands together.'' Witness said Major Oppong Addai, the alleged coup leader, left them when the date was changed because of Cpl. Tangui's request. He said when he further asked of Capt Owoo, Appiah, one of the leader's of the coup plotters, said Capt Owoo had gone and that he would take over the Castle. Witness said the other accused persons introduced Osei Kofi to him as the one who was ''driving the other coup plotters to and from outside Ghana''. L/cpl. Amoah said ''I reported whatever transpired between the plotters and soldiers to the authorities.'' He said they were at the hotel when all of them including the accused persons were arrested. Cross-examined by Mr. Nyamekye Baah, counsel for Offei, witness said it was not rpt not unfair for him to accept gifts from the accused and later report them to the authorities. Witness said he returned all monies received from the accused persons to the authorities and that it was the authorities who asked that the day of the coup be changed to September two. Hearing continues on Tuesday. November four.
