Publications tarnished image of Ghana - Witness

Accra (Greater Accra), 26 June, Mr. Francis Agyei Danso former Secretary to the Cabinet, today said publications by the "Ghanaian Chronicle" and the "Free Press" in February 1996 that the Government was dealing in cocaine, were not only false but were meant to injure the credibility of the Government.

Mr. Danso, presently Ghana's High Commissioner to Malaysia, was giving evidence for the prosecution in a case in which the Editor-in-Chief of the Ghanaian Chronicle, Kofi Coomson, Publisher Tommy Thompson, former editor Eben Quarcoo and Tommy Thompson Books Ltd, publishers, all of the Free press, are charged with publishing false reports likely to injure the reputation of the country.

All the accused persons have pleaded not guilty and are on 10 million cedis bail each.

Led in evidence by Mr. J.C. Amonoo-Monney, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Danso said when he was at post as Cabinet Secretary, he read four publications, two each in both papers, all alleging that the NDC Government was dealing in cocaine and used the proceeds to purchase arms.

The prosecution witness said the publications further alleged that the arms were meant to forestall any violence which might crupt during the November 1996 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

He was shown and identified editions of the papers, which contained the allegations and tendered them in evidence without objection from defence counsel.

Mr. Danso read the publications and said in the February one to Four 1996 edition, the Ghanaian Chronicle, alleged that the NDC government was "deeply implicated in a cocaine and arms syndicate of international earth shattering proportions".

He said the publication stated that Mr. Frank Yaw Benneh, a former diplomat in Geneva was a government spy in the syndicate but was arrested by the Swiss authorities for not only dealing in drugs but also as a user. Diplomatic immunity, the publication alleged, was used by the government to aid drug trafficking, witness said.

He said the publication mentioned how the NDC government was using the drug money to purchase weapons from the black market for President Rawlings's commandos, instead of using the money for food, clothing and other essentials for Ghanaians.

Witness said in the March seven, 1996 edition of the same paper, it alleged that some of the weapons purchased were from a company in Russia.

He said the alleged publications carried the by-line of Kofi Coomson. Mr. Danso said in the January 31 to February six 1996 edition of the Free Press, the paper alleged that President Rawlings' confidant was arrested in Geneval for dabbling in the cocaine business but the President used diplomatic immunity to block his prosecution.

Witness said the publication mentioned Mr. Benneh as the President's confidant and others in other parts of the world who helped the NDC government in the cocaine deal.

He said int he Febrary seven to February 13, 1996 edition, the paper continued the false publications and mentioned countries in Africa, Europe, America and Asia where the cocaine syndicate was allegedly operating. witness said the publication stated that the NDC government is the "most disgraceful and disgraced government ever in Ghana', adding that the paper said," the government is made up of drug barons of National Drugs Cartel (NDC)". Mr. Danso said the paper appealed to the United Nations to investigate the matter and bring the alleged crooks to book.

Further hearing was adjourned to Monday June 29 for the cross examination of the witness. gri