Alban Bagbin, minority leader in parliament, said there was no substance to the coup allegations, which appeared in a local newspaper's article over the weekend.

Bagbin said he had been told on good authority that the source of the coup allegations had confessed to inventing the tale to obtain regular payments from the security services.

''The security agencies have assured the government and the public that there is at present no threat to the stability of the country,'' said Bagbin.

Over the weekend, govt authorities questioned and released without charge five people, including three army officers, over an alleged coup plot, the information minister said on Wednesday.

''The security agencies have conducted investigations into matters relating to state security,'' Information Minister Nana Akomea told Reuters.

''Three serving officers, a retired soldier and a civilian were questioned but they were all released (and allowed) to go home after interviews on Saturday,'' he added.

Ghana is widely viewed as one of the most stable countries in volatile West Africa, having managed to settle into democracy after a coup-ridden start to independence from former colonial master Britain.

In 2001, one-time army ruler Jerry Rawlings handed over power peacefully to former opposition leader John Kufuor.