The Commercial Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, has varied to GHc6 million with three to be justified the bail conditions of the eight people accused of being part of a plot to destabilise the country and possibly overthrow the government.

Earlier on May 8, the court had granted Dr. Frederick Mac-Palm, the man accused of masterminding the alleged plot; Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, Johannes Zikpi, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon bail in the sum of GH¢10 million, with two sureties to be justified.

With the justification, the court then said the sureties must provide proof of ownership of money or property equal to the bail sum.

But they have still not been able to meet those conditions and have been in custody since.

However, lawyers of the accused persons on Friday, June 5, moved a review bail application for it to be varied.

The court, after listening to the parties, reviewed the bail conditions to GHc6m each with three sureties to be justified.

Starr News’ Court Correspondent Muntalla Inusah reports that the case has been adjourned to July 3, for the trial to commence.

Charges

Dr Mac-Palm, Kafui, Debrah, Dekuwine, Abubakar, L/Cpl Akanpewon and Zikpi have been charged with conspiracy to commit treason felony and treason felony, while Dr Mac-Palm and Kafui have been separately charged with conspiracy to possess explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse and possession of explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse.

Col Gameli and ACP Dr Agordzo have been charged with abetment of treason felony.

Prosecution’s facts

The facts of the case, as presented by Ms Craig, were that TAG plotted to destabilise the country and overthrow the government.

She claimed that, as part of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm, who is accused of being the mastermind of the plot, Kafui and Debrah planned on kidnapping the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief of the Defence Staff and force the President to announce his overthrow.

“Again, there were discussions on whether or not to kill the President in the process of overthrowing the government,” she said.

The prosecutor added that in June 2018, the security agencies picked up intelligence that the accused persons, under the auspices of TAG, had planned to overthrow and take over the government.

According to her, as part of the plan, Col. Gameli recruited Zikpi, who was a signal specialist with the GAF, to help jam the radio signals of the National Communications Authority.

TAG, she said, planned to jam all radio stations, with the exception of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

The prosecutor said in furtherance of the plot, Dr Mac-Palm invited Kafui, who was a blacksmith at Alavanyo, to Accra to manufacture explosives and pistols for the group.

With regard to ACP Dr Agordzo, Ms Craig said he donated GH¢2,000 to TAG to aid its cause and also drafted a speech for Dr Mac-Palm to be read at the planned demonstration by TAG.

As part of the bail conditions, the court, presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, a justice of the Court of Appeal, with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, ordered the eight to deposit their passports at the court’s registry, while they must also report themselves to the police every two weeks.

The eight are part of a group of 10 alleged to be part of Take Action Ghana (TAG), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that prosecutors claim was planning to destabilise the country and possibly take over the government.