GHANA: THREE MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY MILITARY TRIBUNAL FOR CONSPIRACY IN PLOT TO OVERTHROW MILITARY COUNCIL.

Record ID: 636075

  • Title: GHANA: THREE MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY MILITARY TRIBUNAL FOR CONSPIRACY IN PLOT TO OVERTHROW MILITARY COUNCIL.
  • Date: 31st May 1967
  • Summary: MILITARY TRIBUNAL SENTENCING THE ACCUSED (SOF). TRANSCRIPT: HANSEN: SAMPSON SASU BAFFOUR-AWUAH, THE TRIBUNAL SENTENCE YOU TO DEATH BY SHOOTING. GUARD: (IN BACKGROUND) QUICK MARCH! LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT. HANSEN: OSEI POKU, THE TRIBUNAL SENTENCE YOU TO DEATH BY SHOOTING. GUARD: (IN BACKGROUND) RIGHT TURN! QUICK MARCH! H
  • Embargoed: 15th June 1967 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ACCRA, GHANA
  • Country: Ghana
  • Reuters ID: LVA5UOB3BCJFVFUQTA4WNWLSRH54
  • Story Text: A MILITARY TRIBUNAL IN ACCRA ON MONDAY SENTENCED TWO CIVILIANS AND A JUNIOR ARMY OFFICER TO DEATH BY A FIRING SQUAD AFTER CONVICTING THEM OF CONSPIRACY AND SUBVERSION IN CONNECTION WITH A PLOT TO OVERTHROW THE RULING NATIONAL LIBERATION COUNCIL.

    A FOURTH DEFENDANT, A STUDENT, WAS SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IMPRISONMENT.

    THOSE SENTENCED TO DEATH WERE: LIEUTENANT AUGUSTUS OWUSU-GYIMAH, AGED 27, OF THE CAVALRY SQUADRON OF THE GHANAIAN ARMY; SAMPSON SASU BAFFOUR-AWUAH, 26, ALLEGED LEADER OF THE ABORTIVE COUP ATTEMPT; AND JOHN OSEI POKU, 36, A FORMER SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER WITH THE WORKERS' BRIGADE. THE PRISON SENTENCE OF 25 YEARS WAS IMPOSED ON KOFI OWUSU, AGED 20, FOR FAILING TO REPORT THE PLOT TO AUTHORITIES.

    THE MILITARY TRIBUNAL HEARING LASTED THREE WEEKS. THE MEN WERE CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO ASSASSINATE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, AND THE CHARGES WERE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE ATTEMPTED COUP OF LAST MONTH.

    THE CONVICTION AND SENTENCES HAVE TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE MILITARY RULER OF GHANA, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ANKRAH. THE MEN'S LAWYERS ARE TO PETITION GENERAL ANKRAH FOR CLEMENCY.

    THE DECISIONS AND SENTENCES OF THE TRIBUNAL WERE READ TO THE MEN BY THE TRIBUNAL CHAIRMAN, REAR ADMIRAL HANSEN.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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