Coup Plot: AG files bill of indictment, committal proceedings set for March 3

All is set for the committal proceedings in the case involving members of the Take Action Ghana (TAG) group accused of plotting to destabilize the country.

The court has scheduled the committal hearing for March 3, 2020.

Committal proceedings allow the court to decide whether there is sufficient evidence against accused persons so as to order them to face trial in a higher court.

In court today, the Attorney General’s department led by Magistrate Eleanor Barnes Botchwey said the AG is ready for the committal proceedings to be conducted.

State Prosecutors have also filed documents detailing the specific roles the 10 accused persons played in the alleged plot to overthrow state. This is the Bill of Indictment which the defence lawyers have over the past months been urging the state to make available.

Gershson Apak who is a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces was discharged while another civilian employee of the Armed forces regiment Johaness Zikpi was arrested and charged.

The other nine standing trial are Frederick Yao Mac-Palm; Dornyah “Ezor” Kafui (a local weapon manufacturer); Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu (aka BB or ADC), a freight manager; Colonel Samuel Kojo Gameli; WO2 Esther Saan; Lance Corporal Ali Solomon; Corporal Seidu Abubakar; Sylvester Akanbiri and Senior Police Officer, ACP Benjamin Agordzo.

What was being plotted

According to the Ghanaian government, a group known as Take Action Ghana (TAG), was working to recruit and radicalise a base of young people against the political authorities, under the guise of “nation-building”.

The government statement said it had arrested the group’s leaders, identified as Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, Ezor Kafui and Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu.

The government claims the group was plotting with serving military officials to procure weapons, take over key installations and secure funding, with an aim of taking over government.

What was recovered

During the seizure, government says it was able to recover a stash of weapons including, six pistols, three smoke grenades, 22 IEDs, two AK47 magazinesn computer equipment and one long knife.