Alleged treason trial: TAG was to mobilise, educate citizens on human rights – Dr Mac-Palm
Dr Frederick Yaw Mac- Palm, one of the ten persons accused of plotting to overthrow the Government, says Take Action Ghana (TAG), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), was founded to mobilise and educate citizens on their fundamental human rights.
Dr Mac-Palm, told an Accra High Court during his evidence-in-chief, led by Mr Livingston Ameevor, his defence counsel that he formed TAG in or around May 2019, and that he had been organising media outreach programmes, to teach the target audience on personal hygiene.
He said TAG also aimed at fighting nepotism, corruption and to join groups calling for the review of the 1992 Constitution.
Dr Mac-Palm recounted that TAG organised outreach programmes in Kpando, in the Volta Region, and other places, and donated 100 bags of cement for the construction of health facilities in those areas.
Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, another accused person, Dr Mac- Palm, said promised to contact key persons such as nurses, doctors, soldiers and other targeted audience.
“I have never in my life planned to remove government through a coup. I say that it was Staff Sergeant Sule Kwadwo Awarf, third prosecution’s witness, who suggested the need for TAG leadership to acquire weapons of protection after we were attacked by armed robbers after one of our outreach trips on the Bole-Bamboi road,” he said.
Dr Mac-Palm said Awarf brought Donya Kafui, another alleged accomplice, who he had worked with in the past and that Kafui can manufacture the pistols.
Dr Mac-Palm said Awarf continued his wicked plans and planted the smoke grenade on him (Dr Mac-Palm).
The accused said it was Awarf who planted all the weapons that were tendered by the prosecution’s witness.
Dr Mac-Palm said, “I have known Colonel Samuel Gameli as a senior military officer and all our discussions have been on health and we have never had any discussions about a revolution. Johannes Zikpi is someone I met through Awarf when he accompanied Colonel Gameli to the hospital.”
The accused told the three-panel-member court made up of Justices Stephen Oppong, Hafisata Amaleboba and chaired by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe that “I have never discussed any issues or matters regarding coup or jamming communication equipment.”
Mrs Yvonne Attakorah Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), asked Dr Mac-Palm when and who formed TAG.
Dr Mac-Palm said it was incorporated in July 2018 “by myself, one Professor in the US, called Dr Sam and Debrah.
Mrs Obuobisa put it to Dr Mac-Palm that during one of their (Mac-Palm and Dr Sam) conversations, he (Dr Mac-Palm) stated that TAG was formed to speak against ills of society, but contrary to this, TAG had an agenda which he (Mac-Palm) pushed through on the executive WhatsApp platform.
Mrs Obuobisa asked whether Dr Mac-Palm had already stated that what he read was a conversation between him and Dr Sam on the TAG executive’s WhatsApp platform, but Dr Mac-Palm said he did not remember holding such conversation with Dr Sam on the executive platform.
Dr Mac-Palm is standing trial with Kafui, Debrah, Johannes Zipki, Colonel Samuel Kojo Gameli, Warrant Officer Class Two Esther Saan, Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon, Lance Airforce Corporal Ali Solomon, Lance Corporal Seidu Abubakar and Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Benjamin Agordzo.
They have been charged for attempting to overthrow government but have since denied their respective charges and granted bail.
