ACP Dr. Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo has revealed that his arrest and five-year trial for treason amongst other charges, came barely two weeks after the Minister of Defence had threatened him on a WhatsApp platform.
Following a critique he made about the status quo of the police service and how politicians have infiltrated the peace enforcement agency to manipulate affairs in their favour, ACP Agordzo says he was advised to be cautious in order not to fall in the lane of the government.
He explained he was counseled by persons including those closer to power, to be careful, a caution which was followed by a threat from the Defence Minister, Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul.
Dr. Agordzo says for merely sharing his mind just like others on a topic about civil uprising on the WhatsApp platform, the Defence Minister threatened him and reproduced the comments he had shared earlier on the topic when the arrest of the alleged coup plotters came up some weeks later.
“I am currently on the same platform with the Defence Minister. The name of the platform is ‘Alerts with Adam Bonaa’. On that platform we have the Defence Minister, Interior Minister, we have politicians, spokespersons of this current government, police officers, military officers –retired and active, –we have all kinds of people; most of the media people are even on that platform. So somebody posted something captioned “Civil uprising is imminent”; – Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe and then it generated discussion. We all shared our views and I realised there was, even at that point, a misunderstanding of the term so I made my point forcefully that some of these elements are there, we better take steps to avert them rather than denying them,” he told host, Keminni Amanor.
The acquitted police officer added that few weeks after the discussion, the arrest of the alleged coup plotters was made which also became topical on the platform, where he shared his views.
“…Then all of a sudden, the Defence Minister reposted that comment I told you about and then added, “he is way off the mark, he must be brought to order”. I’m just quoting him.”
“I was threatened by the Minister and barely two weeks after the threats, I was arrested, where would I look? I can only attribute it to the Defence Minister,” he indicated.
ACP Dr Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo, was aquitted with two others who were also accused on the matter.
The judgment, handed down by the three-member panel of judges on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, marked a significant turn in the legal proceedings surrounding the alleged plot to oust a government.
The two other persons who were accused alongside ACP Agordzo, were Colonel Gameli, and another junior military officer, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, who were both acquitted.
The late Dr. Frederick Yao Mac Palm, the alleged mastermind of the entire plot, was posthumously declared the first accused. The second accused, Donya Kafui, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit high treason and high treason. Similarly, the third accused, Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu, faced convictions on charges of conspiracy to commit high treason and high treason.
‘Dame always knew there was no case, it was just a charade’ – Kpebu on Agordzo’s trial
Warrant Officer Class Two Esther Saan Dekuwine, the sole female among the accused, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit high treason but not guilty of high treason. On the other hand, Cpl Seidu Abubakar, the seventh accused, was acquitted of both conspiracy to commit high treason and high treason. Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, the eighth accused, received a mixed verdict, being found guilty of conspiracy but not guilty of high treason.
Coup plot
The charges stem from an alleged plot to destabilise the country, with the accused facing accusations of conspiracy to commit high treason, abetment to high treason, and high treason. The trial, which commenced on June 8, 2021, caught the nation’s attention due to its high-profile nature.
Supporters of the accused gathered in the courtroom, expressing relief and jubilation at the acquittal of ACP Dr Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo. The trial had been ongoing since April 2021, with the judgment date set on November 22, 2023, following extensive legal arguments and the presentation of witnesses.
The prosecution team, led by Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, presented a formidable case, including testimony from seven soldiers. In contrast, the defence, comprising lawyers such as Rita Akukunti Ali, Victor Kodjogah Adawudu, and others, vigorously defended their clients throughout the proceedings.
The fallout from this trial is expected to resonate across the legal and political landscape, raising questions about the nature of the charges and the complexities surrounding the alleged coup plot. As the nation absorbs the verdict, the implications of this high-profile case are likely to reverberate for some time to come.
