General News of Wednesday, 8 June 2005

Source: Free Press

Seized Arms Meant For Togo

Security sources have confirmed that the large quantity of arms, and ammunitions which were seized in Accra last week was destined for Togo.

The source further confirmed that the arms were meant for an insurrection by the opposition radicals in Togo to overthrow Faure Gnassingbe instead of a coup plot in Ghana as reported earlier.

Last Thursday the security service in an operation arrested three persons and seized a quantity of arms including 36 AK 47 assault rifles and 10 pistols together with ammunitions and hand grenades. The three who were arraigned before an Accra court on Monday and remanded in custody were named as Mohammed Abdulai Atakora, Ernest Adorsoo and Seth Kumako. Two others who escaped and are being sought for by the police were named as Maxwell Kudjeo Ketsi and Agaga Ekwiey.

Initial reports after their arrest caused public concern since it was suspected that the arms were intended for Ghana, but further inquiries by the Free Press revealed that the suspects were rather buying the arms on behalf of the Togolese opposition. The source revealed that the Ghanaian security agencies were alerted after the suspects had contacted a known gun dealer in the Bole area about the purchase of arms.

He stated that the security services mounted a surveillance on the suspects until they had managed to procure some arms and ammunitions and then they were nabbed. The sources noted that Ghana would not allow itself to be used as a springboard for a coup in Togo since Ghana would suffer from any upheaval in Togo.

Meanwhile in another development, ex-president Rawlings last Saturday launched a diatribe against Ghana's relationship with Togo.