Kweku Baako Denies fabricating story....

...to mar Smith- Rawlings relations

Editor of the Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako Junior, has disagreed with defence counsel that he had fabricated evidence to mar the relationship between Mr. Emmanuel Victor Smith and his boss, former President Jerry John Rawlings.

The Counsel, Dr Benjamin Kumbour, (MP) continuing his cross-examination of Mr. Baako had suggested to him that his fabrication of the evidence was part of a strategy to strip Ex-President Rawlings naked in public.

Mr. Baako replied that, he could not have stripped Ex-President Rawlings naked and explained that he was going to critically examine his track record as a citizen of the country and as a former Head of State. He said his statement of stripping off the Ex-President was in reaction to a comment made by the Ex-President in connection with his late father at a New Year reception held for journalists.

Mr. Baako had earlier told the tribunal that the alleged letter containing the threats and warning to kill him was presented to him by one of his typesetters.

He said it was normal for the typesetter to hand over all letters to him. Mr. Baako admitted that the purported letter leaked, after he had received an anonymous call from an insider of the former President's Office on March 19, this year.

He said it was after the incident that he heard on the radio that the Police and the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) were investigating the matter.

Mrs. Margaret Ivy Amoakohene, Lecturer of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon and a social commentator, was the next witness to give evidence.

Led in evidence by Mr. Anthony Gyambiby, Principal State Attorney, Mrs. Amoakohene said on March 19, this year she received a telephone call from Mr. Baako and that she asked him about the latest information in town.

Mr. Baako, according to her, replied that the latest news in town was about them, so the two should meet at a place to discuss the issue.

During the meeting, Mr. Baako gave her an open letter, addressed to both of them, warning the two to desist from attacking the Ex-President verbally.

When she enquired, who the author was, Mr. Baako mentioned Mr. Smith's name. Mrs. Amoakohene said she did not take the matter lightly and, therefore, made a report at the Police Headquarters in Accra and handed over a copy of the threatening letter to them for investigations, because her life was in danger.

She said she also sought the assistance of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) since her life was in danger.

During the sitting, Mr. Gyambiby drew the attention of the court to a publication in 'The Daily Guide' about an alleged missing of the Victor Smith docket

He said the publication had caused an embarrassment to them and prayed the tribunal to caution journalists on how to report court proceedings. The Principal State Attorney explained that, at the last adjourned date the docket was in the Court Registrar's Office, but at the time of going to court that day, the registrar was not around.

Subsequently, the tribunal chaired by Mr. Imoru Ziblim asked journalists to be circumspect in their reportage.

Smith has pleaded not guilty to issuing a threat of death and is on a 50 million cedis bail.

Earlier, the tribunal was told that on March 18, the accused and Mr. Abrampah Mensah, Interim President of the Action Forum, which is affiliated to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), wrote a correspondence to be handed over to Mr. Baako Junior and Mrs. Amoakohene that they would not sit down unconcerned over their criticisms of the former President.

The Prosecution said the accused also warned that if the two did not stop their criticisms after receiving the letters, members of the Action Forum would be given pick-up vehicles to track and crash them.

The accused also said should these steps to silence the two fail, they would devise other means to kill them.

Mr. Mensah, who is a witness in the case, was alarmed and revealed the plot to a friend and handed over the letter to him. This friend in turn gave it to Mr. Baako Junior, who informed Mrs. Amoakohene.

Accused admitted being the author of the threatening letter on his arrest, the Police said. The case was adjourned to August 10.