Rawlings' aide accused of plot against journalists

Victor Smith, literally, the vocal extension to former President Jerry 'Boom' Rawlings' thoughts and ideas has been exposed as the alleged sinister hand behind threats to Kweku Baako Jnr., the Editor in-Chief of The Crusading Guide and Mrs Margaret Amoakohene, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, forensic tests by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Police have shown.

Also, the person who turned coat and exposed the plot to the national security agents is now under 24-hours police protection in a "safe house" after alleged threats on his own life, subsequent to his cover being blown. Last Thursday's edition of The Crusading Guide spoke of "a sinister plan by some pro-Rawlings fanatics to psychologically harass and possibly physically eliminate some key journalists and social commentators in the country."

The news has sent shockwaves throughout the nation, particularly coming at a time of heightened adherence to press freedom. A copy of a hand-written draft seen by this newspaper warns the two leading social commentators to "desist from perpetual attacks without decorum on the person of former President, Jerry Rawlings on national media networks."

When Victor Smith was contacted by our reporter last night he did not deny the contents of the document quoted to him, but insisted a copy of the document be faxed to him. He said he had not seen a copy of the said document but when asked, "are you saying you didn't write it?" he responded, "I didn't say that."

Although, two suspects were in police custody last night and were reported to be singing like canaries, the special aide to the former President said he had not been spoken to by the officers in charge of the investigation.

The Statesman has learnt that last Friday, Spio Garbrah, Minister for Education in the previous government arranged a meeting with Kweku Baako at the Coffee Shop, Labone. Also in attendance was Victor Smith. But intriguingly, the meeting was more of a shadow boxing contest with both parties revealing very little but expecting more from the other side. Victor Smith then made no mention of having anything to do with the plot to deal with journalists and social commentators who are seen to be very critical of his boss, Rawlings.

On Monday, the Editor-in-Chief of the Crusading Guide said he spoke to Victor Smith for thirty minutes on telephone, putting it to him like the pseudo-legal expert he has become of late, that he, Victor Smith, is the author of the threatening "directive." "I told Victor Smith this afternoon that 'I'm telling you, you wrote the thing' Smith did not respond either way."

But, during Friday's meeting the two top NDC men were said to have acknowledged that such a "directive" could have been drafted. According to a source, immediately after the secret meeting in which the plot was hatched, a "mole in the camp sent a copy and other damning information to the security services." The two suspects arrested over the weekend were alleged to have been part of the conspiracy.

Tensions are said to be on an all-time high within the circles around the former President. Victor Smith is said to have confided in close associates that he is under a lot of stress as "the pressure was mounting against him." A source told the paper that the super-grass, now under police protection, "was a trusted member of an inner circle within the NDC," The second largest political partying the country.

According to Kweku Baako, "from what I've been told, these threats are only for starters." He added that the main menu would have involved a broader recipe of many journalists considered to be highly unfriendly to the former President. "The names of the two of us, I understand, just happened to be on top of the list," he added. Kweku Baako said he had been assured by the police that the they are taking the threats seriously and taking measures to protect him and Mrs Margaret Amoakohene.

In a related development, a statement released by the NDC's Media Committee and signed by Spio Garbrah said that the NDC "categorically denies any involvement of its members in the alleged plot." The statement carried on Radio Ghana news, asked media practitioners to carry on their work "without fear of attacks from anyone."