<<Print>>

AN ACCRA High Court Wednesday heard how Dr. Frederick MacPalm, the medical doctor who is alleged to be the mastermind of a plot to overthrow government, was habouring the desire to become President.

Deputy Staff Officer (DSO) Frank Aboagye, the prosecution’s 10th witness, led in his evidence-in-chief by the Director of Public  Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, told the court that WOII Esther Saan, another accused person in the trial, revealed the information to a team of investigators when she was interrogated.

According to the witness, WOII Esther had stated that Dr. MacPalm wanted to become President and therefore needed “some soldiers to assist in the pursuit of that agenda.”

“She claimed that Bright Alan Debrah (another accused) particularly asked her to look out for soldiers for that purpose,” the witness told the court.

Dr. MacPalm, together with nine other persons, is on trial for high treason and abetment of high treason for planning to overthrow the democratically elected government through a coup.

WOII Saan, according to the witness, indicated during interrogation that she was informed about the coup plot by Alan Debrah and they subsequently attended meetings at the Next Door Beach Resort located at Teshie, a suburb of Accra.

“That Bright, at that meeting, bemoaned what he saw as a poor management of the country. That Bright, convinced the soldiers present, to see the need to overthrow the government and told them again that once the government is overthrown, a military officer will be put in place as interim President, and later elections will be conducted,” DSO Aboagye narrated.

He added that Bright, during the meeting, told the soldiers “not to be afraid and that there are some senior military officers backing that agenda to overthrow the government. She again disclosed that she asked Bright at the meeting to tell them who those senior military officers were, and Bright told them at the meeting that in due course, they will get to know those senior military officers.”

Take Action Ghana

The witness also told the court that Dr. MacPalm, in pursuit of his agenda to overthrow government, set up a group called Take Action Ghana (TAG), as a springboard for the coup plot.

He said the idea behind the creation of the group was to create various WhatsApp pages, to engage its recruitment agenda and also, to enhance the dissemination of information on its agenda.

“The purpose for setting up the group was to overthrow the government in a manner similar to that used in the case of the Arab Spring. These were contained on the executive platform of Take Action Ghana,” DSO Aboagye indicated.

Agordzo’s Role

The Witness also told the court about the role played by Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, in the plot to overthrow government, which primarily included offering them advice and stating that he will contribute to discussions on their platform and be involved in any activity they agreed to embark on.

“Based on the fact that he provided advice and drafted a speech for their demonstration, and provided funds for their intended action, investigators came to the conclusion that he was aiding in the attempt to overthrow the government,” DSO Aboagye stated.

The witness also read a WhatsApp conversation between Dr. Agordzo and those on the TAG Executive platform, in which he said “the seed of Arab Spring has been sown already. All the factors that led to the Arabs Spring are present in Ghana just waiting for a trigger.  Something that will touch Ghanaians to rise up and say enough is enough”.

Dr. Agordzo in one of the WhatsApp conversations indicated that “sometimes I find myself detained by my profession that is my greatest challenge now,” and Dr. MacPalm advised him not to worry, adding that “the end result is the most important. Your technical and strategic support is the most needed.”