Six individuals, including soldiers, sentenced to death by hanging in Ghana coup conspiracy trial

Six Ghanaians, including three soldiers, have been sentenced to death by hanging for their involvement in a coup plot that occurred three years ago. This trial marked the first treason trial in Ghana since 1966 when post-independence leader Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown. The six individuals were apprehended in 2021 while testing weapons in Accra, the capital, with the alleged intention of overthrowing the government. Despite pleading not guilty during the trial, the group, which includes a gunsmith, was found guilty of high treason and conspiracy to commit high treason. Defence lawyers have expressed their intention to appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court. On the other hand, three other individuals, including a senior police officer and two military officers, were acquitted. Throughout the trial, the nation's attention was captivated by the case, evident from the heavy security deployment outside the High Court in Accra during the sentencing. According to court documents, the men were arrested in possession of locally manufactured guns, improvised explosive devices, and AK-47 rifles. State prosecutors, who revealed that the group had planned to organize protests ahead of the 2020 general elections, alleged that their ultimate goal was to topple President Nana Akufo-Addo's government. In support of the guilty verdict, the court referred to intercepted communications and testimonies as compelling evidence. Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, who led the prosecution, hailed the court's decision as significant, emphasizing the constitution's stance against any attempt to overthrow a government. He noted that Ghana last carried out an execution in 1992 when it transitioned to democratic rule. However, it's important to mention that in the previous year, lawmakers voted to abolish the death penalty for ordinary crimes, replacing it with a life sentence.