Chiefs and people of Vakpo demand release of ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo

The Chiefs, Queen mothers and people of Vakpo Traditional area in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region have called on the government and the judicial arm to consider Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr Benjamin Agordzo's bail.

At a Press Conference held on Saturday, January 4, at a community centre in the town, the Chief of Vakpo Todzi, Togbe Awuro V, spoke on the behalf of the Chiefs and people of the area and called on the court to grant the Officer's bail to enable him live his life without any restrictions while investigation continues.

According to the Chief, Dr Agordzo is of a good moral and would have never intended to organize or participate in any coup plot as he has been charged.

"Our son ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo is known to be very disciplined person who took his education seriously and always strived to get to the top, his interest in education has been very exceptional hence his achievements, we strongly believed and we are convinced that he is innocent of the charges levelled against him " Togbe Awuro noted.

He said the entire Vakpo community do not understand actions of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Court and government at large hence the need to process the case fast for justice to prevail.

"We as a community are therefore calling on the government, especially the judiciary to expedite action on the case before them since justice delayed is justice denied, as Chiefs we have followed the development since the arrest of our son from the BNI to Court and back and cannot fully understand why our son was arrested and still being detained, our son is a good man and fine officer and least we can do is to show solidarity as Chiefs of his community," he said.

Togbe Awuro V indicated that the entire Vakpo community was at shock over the Officer's arrest because he is a great asset to the Police Service and the country as a whole and should not be treated in such manner of allegations.

" it is a shock to the entire Traditional area of Vakpo when the news about our son's arrest and detention, we know our son as a disciplined person in private life and as an officer in various capacities, both nationally and internationally, including lecturing at the Police College and the Kofi Anan International Peace Keeping Training Centre, Teshie based on his expertise in Conflict Resolution and Peace management, indeed, we see ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo as a great asset to the Police Service so far as modern policing is concerned in Ghana today " He noted.

ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo is a native of Vakpo Todzi, at the Press conference, the residents were clad in black and red attires, singing dirges and beating war drums among other traditional dancing to signify solidarity.

Background

Dr Benjamin Agordzo is alleged to have assisted the leader of the alleged coup plotters, Dr Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, and some eight other suspects, including a retired Senior Police Officer, Supridentent Peter Lanchehene and some military officers, who had also been charged with treason.

Together with his Lawyer, a private Legal Practitioner, Mr Martin Kpebu, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) invited them over the alleged involvement in the development, and the case has since been under investigations.

Denial of bail

ACP Dr Agordzo's lawyer Martin Kpebu filed his client's bail application but the court refused to grant him the bail.

In a ruling on Monday, November 18, 2019, the court, presided over by Justice George Buadi, said the application was too early because investigations are ongoing.

According to the Justice, Dr Agordzo was a senior police officer, who could likely interfere with investigations when freed.

“His status and experience might possibly be used to hamper and interfere with investigations. I shall refuse the application for now,” Justice George Buadi ruled.

He is since been denied the bail despite several public opinion and appeals of his sympathizers, however, the investigations are still ongoing.