The arrest and detention of an Assistant Commissioner of Police linked to “an elaborated plot to destabilise the state,” have been christened witch-hunt.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on TV, Mr Martin Kpebu, the lawyer for ACP Dr Benjamin Agordzor, said his client is being hounded for advocating an independent police service at a forum organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), a few months ago.
He added that even the nature of the interrogation at the premises of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), gives government out as being on an agenda to victimise his client.
“If you see the kind of people who were interviewing us, you will see that, no, this was a witch hunt, it was not treason. A trial for treason, you would have seen very senior officers there. We were interviewed by kids. They were reading and holding on to words out of context. It was so farcical,” incensed Martin Kpebu said on Tuesday night.
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ACP Dr Agordzor has been charged with abetment to commit treason for his alleged involvement in the coup plot.
He has been held in BNI custody since 1 p.m. on Monday. He is set to face court on Wednesday on this charge.
Dr Agordzor is not alone.
Six serving military officers have also been picked up by police in connection with the alleged coup.
Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, Seidu Abubakar, Albert Baba Ibrahim, Godwin Nii Ankrah, Sylvester Kpebu, and a lady identified only as WO2 Esther have been charged with possession of explosives, arms and ammunition without lawful authority.
Dr Agordzor’s lawyer, Martin Kpebu, believes his client is merely a victim of a witch-hunt.
According to him a famous presentation his client made at IDEG where he bemoaned the political interference in the Police Service, may have offended government and contributed to his arrest.
“This was a man who a few months ago did a brilliant presentation at IDEG. He only said that the police service is no independent so they want the police service to be made independent. So that they can execute their duties professionally. The things he said, were obvious. It was no brainer.”
According to Mr. Kpebu, the hierarchy of the police service advanced a similar argument when they appeared before the constitutional review commission.
“Ask the constitutional review commission,” he said, “ the Ghana Police Service appeared before them and made the same statements.
“Their official position on this is that politicians have been interfering in their work too much. So they asked the commission to amend the constitution so that the president will not appoint the IGP and other top officers but rather, this will be done by the Police Service Commission, which was to be set up,” Mr Kpebu explained.