ACP Agordzor, Mac Palm & 8 others begin trial June 8 as State calls 19 witnesses

The State is expected to call 19 witnesses in the case in which Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benjamin Agordzor, Dr. Frederick Yao Mac Palm, and eight others are standing trial for High treason.

This was made known at Case Management Conference on Tuesday as the three-member panel of the High Court judges presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare Botwe fixed June 8 for the commencement of the trial.

In court on Tuesday, lawyers of the accused persons led by Victor Kodzogah Adawudu withdrew their application for bail variation after his attention was drawn to some infraction on practice directions.

Previously in court

Previously in court, Dr. Mac Palm and seven others who are part of the 10 accused persons standing trial for an alleged coup plot filed applications seeking bail variations.

This was after the accused persons who have been charged with conspiracy to commit High Treason and High Treason failed to meet their bail conditions.

They were on April 24 granted bail in the sum of GHc2 million with two sureties to be justified.

They were also to report to the Director of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) Mondays and Thursdays and were also to deposit their passports to the registry of the court.

The rest of Donya Kafui, Yohannes Zikpi, WO11 Esther Saan, Col Seidu Abubakar, LAC Ali Solomon and Col Sylvester Akanpewon and Col Kojo Gameli have all failed to meet their bail terms.

ACP Agordzor, charge with Abetment and Bright Allan Debrah aka Bright Allan Yeboah are the only two who have met their bail conditions.

Agordzor and Gameli are on GHc1 million bail sum with two sureties one to be justified.

They are among other things to deposit their passports to the registry of the court. They are also to report to their Commanders on Mondays and Thursdays.

Other members of the panel are Justice Hafisata Amaleboba and Justice Anthony Oppong.

Background

ACP Agordzo and Dr. Mac Palm together with eight others alleged to have played various roles in an attempt to destabilize the country have pleaded not guilty to four charges.

The 10 accused persons who were on bail earlier for treason felony were re-arrested by the BIN and slapped with the charges of conspiracy to commit High Treason, High Treason and Abetment.

The charge of High Treason is high than the earlier charge of treason and the court sitting was presided over by three High Court Justices presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe.

All the accused persons are said to belong to a group called Take Action Ghana.

In June 2018, security agencies picked up intelligence of the group’s alleged plan to overthrow the government and usurp executive powers.