The 12th witness (PW12) of the prosecution, Corporal Godwin Nii Korankye Ankrah, has told an Accra High Court that the first accused (A1) in an alleged coup plot trial, Dr. Frederick Mac-Palm, through his Personal Assistant (PA) told him, together with others, that he wanted the government of President Akufo-Addo to be toppled in order for him to become President.
Cpl Ankrah told the court when being led by the State Prosecutor, Winnifred Sarpong, to give his evidence-in-chief on Tuesday that at the said meeting, chaired the Personal Assistant, Mr. Bright Allan Debrah (A3), he indicated to them that Dr. Mac-Palm’s agenda was backed by senior military officer.
Here are excerpts of the evidence-in-chief:
Q: Please, give your full name to the court?
A: Corporal Godwin Nii Korankye Ankrah.
Q. What do you do at the Ghana Armed Forces?
A. I am a soldier at Air Force Base.
Q. Do you know the accused persons?
A. I know the first man, Bright, Esther, next to her, the next one, and the last but one, thus, A1, A2, A6, A7, A8 and A9.
Q. How do you know them?
A. First, when we were all arrested and kept at NIB.
Q. When were you arrested?
A. September 21, 2019, and I also know the lady when we were arrested. Ali Solomon (A8) is my mate.
Q. What do you mean?
A. Intake mate – the same year group from the training school.
Q. Aside he being your mate, have you had any form of interaction with him?
A. Yes, my lords.
Q. Can you tell the court?
A. Somewhere in 2018, I received a call from Solomon that he needed me urgently at Kpeshie. So I asked what the problem was, and he said when I come I will know. I should just come. I dressed in uniform thinking he was in trouble and I took Okada to Kpeshie. When I got there, I called and he told me it wasn’t his house and he was coming. So I should turn heading to Burma Camp and he will meet me at Next Door. He met me at the road side at Next Door. He was laughing because of the uniform I was wearing, and I told him how I wore it. When I got there, he asked me to come to a summer hut or a shed or Matango at Next Door.
When I got there, there were a lot of people seated there. I asked him why they were all in mufti and I was in uniform. He said the people were all soldiers, so there was no need to be afraid. He sent me to the Matango, I greeted and he told me to sit.
Q. What transpired at the meeting?
A. A man chaired the meeting and introduced himself as Mr. Bright Allan Debrah, the Personal Assistant of the Doctor I did not know. Bright went on to the agenda of the meeting – that they wanted to take over government and that there were senior officers backing the cause. And they needed more hands to join the cause, and that the Doctor he is working for the one who wanted to become the next President. After this statement, I was alarmed and at that time our phones had been collected.
Q. Who collected them?
A. Before meeting they provided a table and we were asked to drop them on it.
Q. After [that] agenda what happened?
A. He opened the floor for questions and suggestions. A lot of questions were asked, and I suggested that they should provide us with gotta. After this, a sheet came round to write our names and phone numbers of all present. After [the] meeting was called off and we were refreshed.
Q. You said when you went to the meeting what was the number?
A. Between 20 to 30.
Q. Aside Solomon who invited you to the Next Door, can you identify that persons being present at the said meeting?
A. Yes my lords.
Q. Who were these?
A. Bright, Seidu, and Corporal Akankpewu.
Q. What did you do after the meeting?
A. Ali Solomon promised to give me my transport. I asked him for it and he said he was seeing Debrah and [would] be back, so I was waiting. He said Debrah said Doctor didn’t come, so there was nothing on him to offer me.
Q. Did you do anything after the meeting?
A. I returned with the bike waiting. On my way home, I made a call to one Staff Sgt Owusu from National Security and told him I wanted to see him urgently. We met in my house whilst he was repairing his car and I narrated everything that transpired to him. He said he was travelling to Lebanon so he handed me over to his boss, Mr. Bissah, at the National Security. I met Mr. Bissah and I told him.
Q. What transpired between the two of you?
A. I narrated everything to him, and he told me to get myself involved and inform him anytime I am called for any other gathering. During the same year, he called to check whether I had heard from them, and I said no. My mate, Ali, then he asked me to send him Ali’s photograph and details, which I did that.
Prosecution: My Lords, no more question for the witness.
Cross examination by Livingston Ameevor and Dr. Frederick Mac Palm.
Q. As a soldier you will agree that the security of the President and that of the country is one of your responsibilities?
A. Yes, my lords.
Q. You will agree that [a] coup or overthrow of government is something a soldier will be very concerned about?
A. Yes my lords.
Q. Your evidence before the court is that you attended a meeting where overthrow of this government was discussed?
A. Yes, my lords.
Q. Your evidence before the court that you attended the meeting on a motorbike?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you ride it yourself or a pillion rider?
A. It was an Okada.
Q. You said the rider waited for you whilst you had the meeting?
A. Yes.
Q. So the rider picked you after the meeting to your destination?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you remember how much you paid?
A. Yes.
Q. How much?
A. GH¢60.00
Q. In your evidence you said when you were brought to your destination you informed Sgt Owusu?
A. Yes.
Q. You said he referred you to WO Bissah because Owusu was travelling on peace keeping operation?
A. Yes.
Q. You will agree that both Sgt Owusu and WO Bissah did not follow up with you on that conversation?
A. No my lords.
Q. Your testimony before the court says you were asked to forward the picture of Solomon?
A. Yes.
Q. After forwarding you never heard anything from WO Bissah?
A. No.
Q. Is it true that you never reported the event to you officers/ military officers at Air Force Base?
A. I didn’t report, but have an explanation. At the meeting, we were told that some of the senior officers were part of this cause, so I didn’t take chances; did not know who is involved.
Q. They didn’t mention at the meeting any senior military officer’s name as part of the group?
A. There were no names, but they said senior officers were backing the cause, so we the junior should not fear.
Q. You told the court that you were arrested by officers of NIB?
A. Not NIB, personally I was not arrested. The Military Police raided my house on September 21, 2019 at 11pm. I was not at home, I had gone to the pharmacy to buy drugs; on return I met the Military Police car on the road. When I got to the house, all the tenants were outside, some crying, then my wife pulled me aside and asked what was happening as Military Police just left my house. I told her I didn’t know, so I had to call my adjutant at my work place. Upon his advice, I dressed up and went to them.
Q. You got to know that your house was raided because of the suspicions that you were involved?
A. Yes.
Q. You remember your first statement to the Military Police?
A. Yes.
Q. You told the Military Police that you didn’t know anything about this subversive case?
A. No.
Q. You told the Military Police that you didn’t know anything?
A. No.
Q. It was the Military Police that referred you to the NIB?
A. Yes.
Q. You were detained at the NIB cells?
A. Yes.
Q. You cried to the officers that you didn’t know anything about the subversive act?
A. No.
Q. You were part of the first batch sent to the District Court for remand?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you give a statement and to the NIB when detained?
A. Yes.
Q. What about witness statement?
A. Yes my lords.
Q. Take a look and confirm whether this is the one, your signature?
A. Yes my lords.
Q. Is that your signature?
A. Yes my lords.
Q. Would like to tender it in evidence. Take a look at the statement given to the NIB, whether that is your cautioned statement?
A. Yes.
Q. First is dated 27 September 2019, second is dated 7 October 2019?
A. Yes my lord.
Q. I put it to you that you never attended any meeting at Next Door?
A. I did.
Q. Nowhere did A3 mention to you that he was working as Personal Assistant for A1?
A. He did my lords.
Q. You told the court that you met Doctor first when you were at cells?
A. Yes.
Q. You were arrested and detained, but never had any meeting with Dr. Mac-Palm?
A. Yes.
Q. You insisted that you went and returned on Okada?
A. Yes.
Q. Read paragraph ten of your witness statement.
A. After the meeting I asked Ali to escort me and boarded a trotro.
Cross examination by Lamtiig Apanga
Q. You are a soldier, aren’t you?
A. Yes.
Q. You rank puts you in the category of other ranks and not that of officers?
A. Yes.
Q. So you are not an officer of the Ghana Armed Forces?
A. No my lords.
Q. In your testimony to the court you indicated that at the alleged meeting you were informed that senior officers were alleged to be part, and you junior ranks had their backing, was there one at the meeting?
A. I can’t tell, because I didn’t know most of the participants.
Q. You said you were invited without knowing the purpose of the meeting?
A. Yes, I was not told.
Q. You said at the alleged meeting you were informed of the purpose of the meeting, is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. You in person suggested the procurement of gotta phones?
A. Yes.
Q. Were you aware that the meeting was recorded on both video and audio?
A.
Q. Do you know Staff Sergeant Sulley Kwadwo Awarf ?
A. No.
Q. Have you ever known him?
A. I met him when arrested?
Q. Was he present at the alleged meeting you claimed to have attended?
A. Yes.
Q. Can you describe what he was wearing?
A. No.
Q. Can you tell the court you sat by his side left or right during the meeting?
A. No my lords.
Q. Do you recall where you sat during the meeting?
A. No.
Q. You recall the one on your left or right?
A. No. No because most of the people I met I did not know.
Q. You told the court that you met Esther, A6, for the first time in NIB cells, is that so?
A. Yes.
Cross examination by ACP Dr. Benjamin.
Q. You told the court that your phone was collected when you arrived at the meeting?
A. No, they placed the table and asked us to put them on it.
Q. Do you know the person who placed the table?
A. The table was there before I sat down.
Q. Did the meeting start before you got there?
A. I can’t tell.
Q. Were you informed of the reason for your arrest?
A. Yes.
Counsel: That will be all for the witness
