Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a Security Analyst, has urged Ghanaians to be open-minded about the alleged plot by some persons to destabilize the nation, saying, an armoury is not needed to successfully remove a government.
Dr. Antwi-Danso, the Dean of Academic Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, said people should not just look at the quantum of weapons retrieved from the arrested persons but to also critically examine whether there was a conspiracy to overthrow government or not.
“Who knows what they have done around Accra and across the country so that with any slightest spark or torch, it will begin to flame all over.” He said.
Dr. Fredrick Yao Mac-Palm, a medical practitioner, Ezor Kafui, a local weapons manufacturer, and Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu (aka BB), a freight forwarder, were arrested On Friday, 20th September 2019, by a joint security operation of personnel drawn from Defence Intelligence, CID and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
Remand
They were on Tuesday, September 24, arraigned at a Kaneshie District Court, and jointly charged with conspiracy to commit crime, manufacturing of arms and ammunition, as well as illegal possession of explosives, arms and ammunition.
They were remanded into the custody of the BNI and will make their next appearance on Wednesday, October 9.
Arrest
Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Information Minister, in a statement issued on Monday, September 23, announced that following a 15-month surveillance a joint security operation had neutralized an elaborate plot by the accused to destabilize the nation.
A swoop conducted by officers of the Defence Intelligence, Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service and the Bureau of National Investigation on Friday, September 20, also retrieved arms, explosive devices and ammunition from locations in Accra, Bawaleshie, and Dodowa.
These included five locally manufactured pistols with magazines fitted on them, a foreign pistol with registration number PX154006, three locally manufactured pistol barrels and three smoke grenades.
Others were 22 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 9 x 7.62mm NATO AK47 rounds, two AK47 magazines and a long Knife at Citadel Hospital, Alajo, which is operated by Dr Mac-Palm.
Doubts
Some security analysts, political and social commentators have, however, dismissed the possibility of anyone overthrowing a Government with the level of ammunition reportedly retrieved.
Some have also cast doubts on the capability of the individuals involved to successfully carry out such an operation in view of the solid credentials of the state security agencies.
However, Dr Antwi-Danso has disagreed with those saying that it’s just a few arms and bombs and so they can’t stage a coup. “In fact, we don’t need much to destabilise a government.” He said
“You may even intend to cause mischief or disaffection for the government; even a pair of scissors may be dangerous in the hands of someone who want to use it to attack a government official”.
He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to collaborate with the investigative and justice systems for the successful determination of the case in line with the rule of law.
GNA
