The suspect is currently in custody and is cooperating with police investigations regarding his claims.

The viral video prompted widespread calls from social media users for law enforcement to take action against Nana Poku Piesie.

In a statement, the police assured the public that the suspect will be subjected to due legal process.

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They are Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah, Johannes Zikpi, Lance Airforce Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akankpewon and Warrant Officer Class Two (WOII) Esther Saan Dekuwine

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr Benjamin Agordzo together with Colonel Samuel Kojo Gameli and Corporal Seidu Abubakar, the alleged accomplices were found not guilty after trial, thus they were acquitted and discharged.

The three-member Court made up of Justices of the Court of Appeal Hafisata Amaleboba, and Stephen Oppong and presided over by Mrs Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, said the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they took part in the attempted plan.

Both ACP Agordzo and Colonel Gameli were charged with abetment of crime, to wit, high treason.

Corporal Seidu Abubakar was also charged with conspiracy to commit High treason which they all denied.

ACP Dr Agordzo was not proven to be part of TAG’s executive WhatsApp platform, the speech alleged to have been given to the Doctor Mac-Palm (brain behind the plan but died in the course of the trial) was not authored by him nor did its content depict violence.

The GHC2, 000.00 given to the late Dr Mac-Palm was in furtherance of TAG’s medical outreach and not to fund the government’s overthrow plot.

The “big bang” and “Arab Spring,” Dr Agordzo mentioned to late Mac-Palm were taken out of context and that it was to begin something with enthusiasm and not to overthrow the government, the Court found.

In the case of Colonel Gameli, the Court was told that he confessed knowledge of late Mac-Palm’s activities and the same was recorded on audio and diary of action of the Police but they were not put before the Court.

In a nearly four-hour judgment delivery, the Court said there was no evidence of confession by the Colonel to abet the crime.

However, Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah, Johannes Zikpi, Lance Airforce Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akankpewon and Warrant Officer Class Two (WOII) Esther Saan Dekuwine were found culpable and sentenced to death by hanging for high treason.

The Court established that Debrah was tasked by the late Dr Mac-Palm to recruit others for the attempted overthrow, he held meetings with his accomplices, to discuss how to acquire weapons, the testing of the locally made weapons made by Kafui to that effect, trying to get recruits at GHC50, 000.00 each, for their participation, as well as supplied them with cellular phones to ease communication.

He was also identified in videos captured by Staff Sergeant Sule Kwadwo Awarf, the prosecution’s star witness.

In one of the videos, he was heard and seen asking how the improvised explosive devices described by the late Dr Mac-Palm as bombs, made by Kafui, would be detonated on the day the President, Vice President, Chief of Defense Staff, among key government officials, would be captured at a function.

The Court said that there was no need for a non-governmental organisation such as Take Action Ghana (TAG) to acquire arms, recruit 20 soldiers, no need for roadblocks, and sketch on key public installations just to help deprived communities as Debrah claimed they were to aid their philanthropic work.

His defence does not absolve him, and it was an afterthought, he conspired with the late Mac-Palm and others and took steps to attempt committing the offence, the Court said.

In Zikpi’s case, the prosecution could not prove that he was employed to secure communication gadgets to jam radio and telecommunication networks should the plot succeed but he was convicted on his own confession statement.

The Court found Esther guilty on the grounds that she did not deny ever attending a meeting to plot the attempted overthrow.

She did not deny her Executive position in TAG, asked for unpaid allowances for “the boys,” that is recruited soldiers, and was aware of the plot, hence, she facilitated the plot by recruiting some soldiers.

The prosecution has proven conspiracy charges against Esther and acquitted on high treason, said the court.

The Court said LAC Ali also attended meetings, seen, and heard in the videos produced in court by the prosecution, and actively participated in the meetings, thus, he was found guilty on a conspiracy charge but not guilty of High treason.

Sylvester Akankpewon attended meetings, contributed to how roads would be blocked on the D-day, which routes to take, and asked of their allowances, and how many people were taking part, thus, the Court found that he agreed to act with the other participants.

Akankpewon was convicted on the conspiracy charge but acquitted of high treason.

There was heavy security presence as the convicts were swiftly taken away to await their punishment.

The Attorney General’s Detail made up of Mrs Yvonne Attakorah Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecution’s, Mr Alfred Tuah, deputy attorney general and others, was led by Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame.

The Court said Mr Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu failed to file his written submission when the court ordered.

Late Dr Mac-Palm, Donya Kafui and Staff Sergeant Sule Kwadwo Awarf, the star witness, who planned among the group to capture their activities towards achieving the coup plot were arrested in 2019, when testing the locally made guns made by Kafui upon a tip-off.

This led to the arrest of the others later and they were committed by the Kaneshie District Court to stand trial at the High Court since the District Court does not have jurisdiction.

Prosecution said improvised explosive devices, locally made guns, sketch maps of places to attack, WhatsApp conversations about the plot, among others were retrieved from them.

After Independence when the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister of Ghana was overthrown in 1966, this is the maiden treason trial in the country.

The 1992 Constitution frowns on an attempt to overthrow the government for this reason, their actions are treasonable and punishable by law by hanging to death.

This is to deter others from such acts, but the death penalty has not been carried out since the inception of the 1992 Constitution.

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Residents of Kakpayili, a suburb of Tamale, are outraged over the release of Afa Abdul Rahman Madaha, a popular Mallam in the area, who was arrested by the police for allegedly engaging in ritual killing.

The suspect was accused of killing two children who went missing in Tamale.

According to the Assemblyman of the area, Hafiz Andani, the incident began when twin boys and their friend visited the suspect’s house, but only one of the twins returned home.

The mother of the twins asked the boy about his brother’s whereabouts, and he revealed that they had stayed back at the suspect’s house. When the boys failed to return, the mother raised an alarm, and the suspect was questioned, but he denied knowledge of their whereabouts.

An informant later tipped off the parents that the children were still at the suspect’s house, prompting the residents to storm the house, arrest the suspect, and send him to the chief’s palace. A police search of the suspect’s house revealed body parts of the victims in an abandoned car, leading to the suspect’s arrest and the conveyance of the remains to the Tamale Teaching Hospital Mortuary for preservation.

The Assemblyman said residents are unhappy about the suspect’s release, as they believe he was involved in ritual killing.
They had set the suspect’s house ablaze, suspecting that he was involved in the disappearance and murder of the children.

The Police have since commenced investigations into the incident.

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The residents of Wa, the Upper West regional capital a fortnight ago woke up to the gruesome murder of two security men. This is suspected to be a serial killings, as it comes immediately on the heels of five other people killed in the region.

On 15th June, 2024, three people were reported killed in a suspected land dispute between the Kendeu and Lassie Tuolu communities in the Wa West District. Two days later, another two people were killed in a chieftaincy dispute at Nyanyoyiri in the Wa East District.

The people of the Upper West region are experiencing these security threats at the time they are battling with elementary issues of survival. Again, these heinous crimes occur at a time when the residents in the Wa Municipality have not unravelled the mysteries surrounding the previous killings two years ago.

They have still not been updated on the outcome of investigations conducted by the security agencies into the number of people killed in cold-blood in 2022.

The crime scenes of the latest two victims found on the 18th of June, this year, indicated that they were not markedly different from the modus operandi of the perpetrators of the 2022 killings.

The Overlord of the Wala Traditional Council, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo has waded into the issue, calling on the state security agencies, traditional authorities, hoteliers and residents in the Wa Municipality, to combine efforts, to stop the heinous crimes, re-emerging in the Municipality.

The Wa-Naa, indicated that what happened last Tuesday smacked of the failure of stakeholders to collaborate to get to the bottom of the serial killings. He questioned the outcome of the investigations into the previous serial murders and called on the state security apparatus to update the residents on the investigations, to give them hope and learn the modus operandus of the murderers, emphasising security is a shared responsibility of all.

The Overlord of the Wala Traditional Council assured the residents of the Council’s readiness to team up with the security services to ensure their safety and security.

Meanwhile, the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), held a meeting to re-strategise to contain the situation. The MP for Wa Central, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo and his counterpart for Bole-Bamboi, Yusif Sulemana raised concerns about the rise in serial killings and stressed the need for the Minister of the Interior to brief Parliament on the issue. This prompted Parliament to summon the Minister of the Interior, Henry Quartey to update the House on the matter.

The residents of the Wa Municipality in particular and Ghanaians in general, want nothing short of the state, addressing the lingering serial killings in the Wa municipality, coupled with assurances of adequate security for all.

Life is the topmost priority of every living organism and the residents of Wa and their fellow Ghanaians are justified to be worried, if criminals are snuffing out the lives of their compatriots for reasons best known to these murderers, whilst the security agents are helpless in apprehending these social misfits.

Reports have it that the state security has not found any clue in their investigations after more than 20 suspects were arrested in relation to the 2022 killings. Another issue worth addressing is the sustainability of the previous measures put in place to neutralize the ritual murders in 2022. In a typical Ghanaian fashion, we tend to forget about a problem until the same problem re-emerges.

What happened to the idea of increasing security visibility in the Wa Municipality two years ago? What about the plans of providing light in every corner of the Municipality? What about the practicality of sharing responsibilities between landlords, hoteliers, the state security and the residents on security issues? Two years after the serial murders, residents in Wa are still living in darkness as most of the street lights are off.

The visibility of the Police needs to be upscaled.

As a people, we have the penchant for coming out with ideas and plans when problems and challenges emerge, but lack the endurance to sustain these ideas and plans.

We need to put plans and actions in place to curtail unpleasant eventualities, rather than knee-jerk approaches to issues, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. We were quick to come up with the slogan, “if you see something, say something,” when we felt threatened by terrorists, but that slogan has fizzled out, because we feel less or no more threatened by the perceived terrorism that could take place.

Going forward, measures put in place to ensure adequate security in the Municipality, must be duly followed through by all.

A lot needs to be done by all stakeholders, to allay the fears of the people and encourage them to go about their socio-economic activities without panic, to improve their lot and to develop Mother Ghana.

A stitch in time, saves nine.

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A security Analyst and Expert, Dr. Victor Doke, has advocated for the implementation of a community policing system to address insecurity within communities.

According to Dr. Doke, there are times during security crises when the police must temporarily withdraw, making it essential for the community to step in and maintain security.

Currently, the Ghana Police Service is investigating the death of two individuals in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region. These incidents occurred on Tuesday at the Wa East Education Service office and the Wa Model JHS School.

“We would like to assure the public, especially the residents of Wa, to remain calm as the police work to arrest those involved and bring them to justice,” the service said in a statement.

In an interview, Dr. Doke emphasized the importance of community policing saying it enhances the welfare of the community.

“We should adhere to the fundamentals of community policing. This involves engaging the community, elders, and chiefs, and recruiting volunteers who receive basic security training to enhance community welfare.”

Dr. Doke also pointed out that when police officers withdraw, community members often feel insecure, fearing the recurrence of similar incidents. He recommended strengthening community policing efforts and urged civil society to educate residents on reporting suspicious activities.

“Let us enhance the involvement of civil society. We need to educate people on what to report if they observe anything suspicious. If they notice any unusual movements or individuals in the town, they should promptly report to the police rather than taking the law into their own hands,” he noted

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The Upper West Regional Capital, Wa today (18th June, 2024) woke up to a sad spectacle of a watchman who has been killed at his duty post at the Wa East District Education office at Konta, a suburb of Wa.

Another watchman at the Wa Model Junior High School is also suspected to have been murdered but at the time of filing this report, his body has not been found yet.

Meanwhile, the Upper West Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu who visited the crime scenes has assured that the security agencies are doing all within their power to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

GBC’s Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo in this piece from Wa says as a result of the sad issue, Mr Stephen Yakubu who was billed to visit Zini, Gwollu, Hamile and Kokoligo had to cancelled his engagement to hold Regional Security Council (REGSEC) meeting to deliberate whilst the police are on the grounds working.

Some time ago, a number of watchmen were being killed in Wa whilst on duty and through the efforts of the police, led by IGP, George Akuffo Dampare that social evil stopped until today (18-6-2024) that we woke up to hear the bad news.

The Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Yakubu told the GBC that he spoke to the IGP this morning and he was going to send a special squad here [Wa].

You know this had happened before, that means we have experience of dealing with it, so we are going to deal with it”. “We are on top of the matter, the Ghana Police Service is on top of the matter, when we went there, you saw the work that they are doing there. The IGP is aware, so the matter is now a national issue that we are dealing with. So we can assure them that we are doing everything possible to ensure that all Upper Westerners can have security, knowing that they can sleep in peace,” Mr Yakubu observed.

Reports reaching Radio Ghana indicate that on Saturday, 15th June, 2024, there was a land dispute between the people of Kendeu and Lassia Tuolu which led to death of three people in the Wa West District whilst on the 17th of June, 2024, two people lost their lives at Yanyoyire in the Wa East District as a result of a chieftaincy issue.

Information gathered say the security agencies responded with dispatch to contain the situation in Wa West.

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The Center for Democratic Development, CDD-Ghana has registered its dismay over the latest twists and turns in Cecilia Dapaah’s case.

CDD-Ghana, in a statement said the Office of the Attorney-General had, in a letter addressed to the Economic and Organised Crime Office, EOCO, dated April 25, 2024, advised EOCO not to investigate suspected money laundering in connection with certain monies found at the private residences of Mrs Cecilia Dapaah, a former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources. It said this followed a request for directions, ostensibly made to the A-G by EOCO following EOCO’s receipt of a referral from the Office of Special Prosecutor, OSP, concerning Mrs Dapaah’s case.

It said the referral from the OSP had noted that while the OSP’s investigations had “identified strong indications of suspected money laundering and structuring, such matters fell outside the OSP’s statutory mandate but are well within the EOCO’s mandate, hence the referral. It said the action of EOCO in requesting directions from the A-G without first acting on the referral from the OSP to initiate its own investigation of the matter seemed oddly contrived.

The statement said in its advice to EOCO not to proceed with investigation of the matter, the AG said it found no grounds to warrant such an investigation because the OSP had not made any findings of criminal activity that would serve as a predicate offense for a money laundering case. It said the AG further stated that an investigation by EOCO into the Cecilia Dapaah matter is not necessary since the AG had apparently instructed the Criminal Investigations Division, CID, of the Ghana Police Service some eight months ago to investigate the source of the money found at Mrs. Dapaah’s residence.

The CDD said the upshot of the AG’s advice is that the Cecilia Dapaah matter is over. Case closed.

Once again, a high-profile case of suspected or alleged criminal conduct implicating a politically influential person has been terminated abruptly without proper credible resolution or closure. It said it is not clear in what way the forced termination of further investigation into this matter by the AG serves either the public interest or helps the reputation of the target of the investigation.

The statement said it is hard to believe that, after over eight months of investigation following the alleged theft of one million dollars and 300 thousand euro cash from the home of Mrs Dapaah, the subsequent discovery of another 590 thousand dollars and two million 730 thousand in cash by the OSP in Madam Dapaah’s properties, not to mention the huge balances held in investment and bank accounts, Ghanaians could not get a simple satisfactory answer from any public agency as to the source of these monies.

The CDD said the fact that the money in aggregate, apparently exceeds the former Minister’s known or verifiable income should raise legitimate questions or reasonable suspicion or doubt as to their source.

It said continuing to investigate this matter to establish the source of the monies is therefore eminently justifiable under the circumstances.

The CDD said the idea that unexplained wealth can give rise to a reasonable suspicion or even a presumption of illegality of the source of such wealth is a principle embraced by the 1992 Constitution.

It said notably, Article 286 (4) of the Constitution, in the chapter on the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, makes it clear, in the context of the asset declaration regime, that assets of a declarant that are “not reasonably attributable to income, gift, loan, inheritance or any other reasonable source shall be deemed to have been acquired in contravention of this Constitution.

The statement said it is the same principle or presumption that justified at least a credible investigation in this matter. It noted that it is instructive that Mrs Dapaah refused to complete a Statement of Income and Property form during the OSP investigation. CDD said so far, no other agency is known to have asked to see Mrs Dapaah’s asset declaration record or appears interested in getting to the bottom of this matter in order to bring it to a satisfactory closure.

It reiterated that having been provided with a docket containing various exhibits, statements by about twenty individuals, as well as the bare fact of the quantum of the monies found in the properties associated with Mrs Dapaah and her spouse, one would have expected EOCO to proceed with its own investigations, instead of seeking the AG’s legal advice on prosecution at that early pre-investigative stage.

CDD-Ghana noted with great disappointment that the abrupt or inconclusive manner in which this matter has ended fits a pattern in terms of the Nana Akufo-Addo Administration’s general attitude and response to scandals and allegations or reported incidents of criminal conduct, corruption or other financial malfeasance involving persons closely associated with the Government or the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP.

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Joof, a hotelier and girlfriend of the deceased and owner of Kikibee Restaurant, was discharged by the court following the advice of the Office of the Attorney General.

Prosecution told the court that “the advice from the Attorney General is ready and we have been asked to discharge the accused person.”

Joof in a state of disbelief said “aww” and wiped her tears.

The court presided over by Susana Nyarkotey said in accordance with the advice from the Attorney General dated February 8, 2024, the accused is hereby discharged.

“They found no fault with you,” the Magistrate said.

Mam Yandey Joof, who is on GHC200,000 bail, wept uncontrollably as her relatives whisked her away into a waiting vehicle.

Joof was facing a charge of murder following the death of her boyfriend, Kikibee, the owner of Kikibee restaurant.

Kikibee is said to have behaved strangely in Joof’s apartment. She and a friend rushed him to the hospital, but he (Kikibee) allegedly died shortly.

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Source: GNA

Officials from the Ghana Police Service say they have arrested two more suspects in connection with the murder of the owner of the Royal Cossy Hills Resort known as Jirapa Dubai, Mr. Eric Johnson at Jirapa in the Upper West Region.

Reports say Mr. Johnson, was found in a pool of blood in one of his hotel rooms on Sunday, February 11.

This arrest brings to seven the number of suspects arrested in connection with the murder.

Dookuuri Fausta, Braimah Kasim, Beyuo Felix, Michael Klugey, and Kumbata Kwaku were arrested on Sunday, February 11.

A team of investigators was deployed by the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, following the murder to partner with the Upper West Regional Crime Scene Management Team, which is taking the necessary measures and investigations to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and prosecuted.

A recent update from the Police Service indicates that two more suspects, Charles Tuoze and Favour Nuobe, both workers at the Cossy Hill Hotel have been picked up and are in Police custody, assisting with the investigations.

Below is the police update;

POLICE UPDATE: TWO ADDITIONAL SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE MURDER OF COSSY HILL HOTEL CEO AT JIRAPA

The Ghana Police Service, last night, 11th February 2024, arrested two (2) additional suspects in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Mr. Eric Johnson, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cossy Hill Hotel at Jirapa in the Upper West Region.

The two suspects, Charles Tuoze and Favour Nuobe, both workers at the Cossy Hill Hotel, are in Police custody.

Seven suspects so far have been arrested and assisting the Police as the investigation continues to bring the perpetrator(s) to face justice.

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A three-member panel of judges of an Accra High Court has discharged and acquitted Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr. Benjamin Agordzo, Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli and one other junior military officer, Corporal Seidu Abubakar.

ACP Agordzo and the other military personnel were among the ten (10) alleged coup plotters on counts of conspiracy to commit high treason and committing high treason.

The three judges were Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, Justice Hafisata Amaleboba and Justice Stephen Oppong, all three are Justices of the Court of Appeal sitting as additional High Court judges. Justice Asare-Botwe was the President of the panel.

Dr. Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, the Chief Executive Officer of Citadel Hospital (now deceased) and ACP Dr. Agordzo together with eight others were charged variously on April 24, 2021, for conspiracy to high treason, abetment to high treason and high treason.

Dr Mac Palm (A1- now Deceased), Donya Kafui alias Ezor (A2), Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu alias Bright Alan Yeboah (A3), Yohannes Zikpi (A4), Warrant Officer Class Two Esther Saan Dekuwine (A6), Cpl Seidu Abubakar (A7), Lance Corporal Ali Solomon (A8) and Cpl Sylvester Akanpewon (A9) were charged for conspiracy to commit high and high treason.

Col. Samuel Kodzo Gameli (A5) and ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzo (A10) have each been charged for abetment.

All 10 accused (then) pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail while standing trial.

However, following the death of Dr Mac-Palm (A1) who was then in the witness box giving testimony, his evidence was deleted from the records after his passing away was confirmed to the Court.

AG’s team

From the Attorney General’s (AG) Department, the AG Godfred Yeboah Dame led prosecution also included Mrs Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecution, Hilda Craig, a Principal State Attorney (PSA) Winifred Sarpong, PSA, Ms. Lawrencia Adika, State Attorney and Akosua Agyapomaa Agyemang, Assistant State Attorney among others.

Defence lawyers

For the Defence, Ms. Rita Akukunti Ali, a lawyer from Legal Aid with Osei Kwabena and Linda Elikem Mensah represented Bright Allan Debrah Fosu, the third accused.

Lawyer Victor Kodjogah Adawudu represented Donya Kafui alias Ezor, (A2), CPL Seidu Abubakar, (A7), LAC Ali Solomon, (A8) and CPL Sylvester Akanpewon (A9) while Lawyer Anthony Lartey and Eric Kpongo are lawyers for Col. Samuel Kodzo Gamelie, the fourth accused.

Lamptiig Apanga leads Matthias Yir-Eru as lawyers for Esther Saan Dekuwine, the sixth accused.

Lawyer Kormivi Dzotsi, being led by Martin Kpebu, represents ACP Benjamin Agordzo, the 10th Accused while Lawyer Ephraim A. Vordoagu and Lawyer Maud Opoku were those representing Dr Mac-Palm until his demise.

They were discharged after the Court was informed officially of their client’s passing.

State witnesses

When the trial eventually started, State Prosecutors handling the case involving the alleged Coup trial closed their case after parading 13 witnesses including seven soldiers.

The seven soldiers among the 13 witnesses included Col. Isaac Amponsah, Director, and Operational Intelligence at the Defence Intelligence Unit of the Ghana Armed Forces (First Prosecution Witness).

On July 12, 2022, the Prosecution closed its case after calling 13 witnesses in the trial which started on June 8, 2021.

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