How Can I Stage Coup With ?70 - ex-PNDC Cadre

A former Cadre of the 31st December Revolution has challenged Ghanaian journalists to do their utmost to establish the identity of the civilian accomplice in the alleged coup plot to destabilize the state.

He charged that it’s not enough for journalists to come out with the name of Lt-Col Larry Gbevlo Lartey without being able to establish the identity of the four other alleged coup plotters – particularly the name of the civilian who was reported to have been interrogated and released by the state security apparatus in connection with the coup plot.

Mr. Prince Adam Hamidu, a former co-ordinator to the commander of the civil defence organisation (CDO) in the erstwhile PNDC Government, threw the challenge when he walked into the office of Daily Guide on Wednesday to deny his involvement in the reported coup plot against the 30-month old New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration.

According to Prince Adam, on Tuesday, August 5, 2003, i.e., the very day that the Independent led its front page with an exclusive report on an alleged coup plot, a reporter who identified himself as Obeng Manu of Peace fm 104.3 accosted him at the Prof. Mills campaign office at Kuku Hill, Osu, claiming that he has heard that he, Prince, is the civilian accomplice in the coup plot, and so wanted his reaction.

Adam claims that at the time, he had only ?70 (coins) in his pocket, and asked whether the journalist believed he (Prince) can incite soldiers with ?70.00?” Prince Adam therefore, urged the journalist to leave him alone. What worries him, however, is that the interview between them has led to an over-drive in the rumour mill that he is a coup suspect. He claimed that his friends have begun shunning his company, including a businessman who told him that he can’t deal with him anymore, because he thinks he was involved in the coup plot.

According to Prince Adam, his friend told him that it was a certain Yahaya, a serial caller to radio stations who told the businessman about what he had heard concerning Prince’s alleged involvement in the alleged plot. He alleged further that when his friend saw him, he remarked: “Prince, I’m afraid, I don’t want them to close down my business, because they might think that I have some dealings with you”.

According to Prince Adam “he told the Peace fm interviewer that if somebody is a member of the coup plot, then they should look for him not him, Prince Adam”, adding, although Lt-Col Gbevlo-Lartey is my friend, the last time I met him was on January 5, 2001, i.e., the last Friday before the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administration handed over power to the in-coming NPP Administration.

According to him, the last time he enquired, he was told that Lt-Col Gbevlo-Lartey, had gone on peace-keeping mission and did not know whether he had returned until he read in the papers that some five persons have been invited by the state security agencies and interrogated in connection with a coup plot led by Lt-Col Gbevlo-Lartey, former commander of the 64th Reserve Regiment, otherwise known as the Forces Reserve Battalion (former Commando Unit of the Ghana Armed Forces), now absorbed into the mainstream of the Ghana Army.