six Ghanaians, among them three soldiers, have been sentenced to death by hanging for their participation in a coup plot that unfolded three years ago. This marks the first treason trial in Ghana since 1966, a historical event following the overthrow of post-independence leader Kwame Nkrumah.
The individuals were apprehended in 2021 while testing weapons in the capital city of Accra, allegedly with the intent to overthrow the government. The group, which included a gunsmith, pleaded not guilty during a highly publicized trial that captivated the nation’s attention. Defense lawyers have announced their intention to appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court.
Three other defendants, including a senior police officer and two military officers, were acquitted of the charges. Security measures were intensified around the High Court in Accra during the sentencing on Wednesday.
The court found the convicted individuals guilty of high treason and conspiracy to commit high treason. The arrests had been made after the group was found in possession of locally manufactured guns, improvised explosive devices, and AK-47 rifles, as detailed in court documents.
According to state prosecutors, the group had allegedly planned to organize protests as a pretext to topple President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government in the lead-up to the 2020 general elections. The court cited compelling evidence, including intercepted communications and testimonies, as the basis for the guilty verdict.
Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, who spearheaded the prosecution, hailed the court’s decision as “significant” in upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the nation’s democratic governance.