I was Promised A Car - Witness Tells Court

Accra, (Greater Accra) 29 Oct. Lance-Corporal Emmanuel Amoah, first prosecution witness in a case in which five persons are charged with treason, today said he was promised a car and three million cedis if the coup plot succeeded. In his second day in the witness box, corporal Amoah said the first accused, Alex Offei wrote a promisory note to this effect, signed it and the witness counter signed. Witness said Offei also provided red bands which would be worn by the coup operators and he took photographs with the first accused at the Tip-Toe Gardens. The photographs were tendered in evidence. A three-member panel presided over by Mr Justice P.K. Owusu- Sekyere, is hearing the case The other accused persons are, Kwame Ofori Appiah, a cleaner, Sylvester Addai Dwomoh, a teacher, John Owusu Boakye, a student, formerly resident in London and Emmanuel Osei Kofi, a driver. They have all pleaded not guilty and are in prison custody. Cpl. Amoah said Appiah also prepared a promisory note of the same offer for 10 other soldiers whom he was asked to recruit for the operation. He said he requested that the promisory notes be given to him and his colleagues should in case any of them dies in the operation, the contents of the note would be binding on the coup plotters. Witness said Appiah also took photographs with one Owusu who was his colleague on guard duties at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) when Offei and Appiah contacted them. Cpl. Amoah said at a meeting with the two accused, Offei gave the day of the coup as August 31, 1994 but he and Appiah disagreed on the date. Witness said on August 30, 1994, at the request of Offei, he and Owusu went to the former Ghana Films Corporation where they met Offei and Appiah and he told them that he was able to recruit eight out of 10 soldiers requested by the coup plotters. He said Offei told him that he had been able to recruit two soldiers who he introduced to him as L/cpl. Tangui Nsini and L/cpl. Amoah Kingsley. Cpl. Amoah said he told Offei that he knew Cpl. Tangui who lives at the same barracks with him while Kingsley is a colleague at the GBC. Witness said at another meeting at the Aams Hotel, Offei introduced him ( the witness), Owusu, Tangui and Kingsley to Major Oppong Addai, the alleged leader of the plotters. Hearing continues tomorrow October 30.