Ghana’s BNI detains top police officer over coup plot

Ghana’s Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) is holding a top police officer Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Dr Benjamin Agordzo, for allegedly plotting with others to overthrow the government.

His lawyer Martin Kpebu has confirmed to Accra-based network Joy News that the cop has been charged with abetment to commit treason for his alleged involvement in a coup plot.

ACP Agordzo was arrested on Monday, November 4, 2019, Daily Mail GH’s checks indicate.

Checks reveal that the officer has been in communication with some alleged coup plotters who were arrested a few weeks ago and are standing trial.

“He was invited to appear before BNI and he did so this afternoon [Monday]… initially they said they just needed him to assist with investigations but just this evening they turned from assisting with investigations to actually cautioning him.

“Meaning that he is on his way to be made an accused. The offence they have written is abetment of treason,” Kpebu told the network.

Dr Agordzor, according to his lawyer, was accused of assisting the alleged leader of the coup plotters, Dr Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, through messages he sent on instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, the report added.

Mr Kpebu said his client was confronted with the messages in which he had allegedly advised members of the group who were planning a demonstration to seek police permit.

“And there was another where he said Ghana has conditions which are similar to the Arab Spring. That is it. This Arab Spring that today if you check in the media, you will get over 40 commentators who have persistently warned that we should take steps to create employment lest we have Arab Spring. These are the reasons for which he is being kept,” Mr Kpebu added.

According to Mr Kpebu, his client sees his arrest and the subsequent charge as a political witch hunt.

He believes this is so because of his famous presentation at the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) where he bemoaned the political interference in the Police Service.

Dr. Agordzo is one of three police officers being questioned over the coup plot.