Victor Smith Is "Hot"

The Leader and President of Action Forum, a group claiming association with National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Abrampah Kwesi Mensah says Mr Emmanuel Victor Smith drafted an alleged letter of threats to two journalists.

The are Mr Kwaku Baako Junior, Editor of the "Crusading Guide" and Mrs. Margaret Amoakohene, a Lecturer at the School of Communication Studies, Legon. Led in evidence by a Principal State Attorney, Mr Anthony Gyambiby Mr Mensah said the threatening letters commenced the first phase of a plan to be carried out on the two journalists, who openly attacked Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings in the media.

Mr Mensah said on March 18 while taking his launch at the Customs, Exercise and Preventive Service (CEPS) Canteen, he received a call from the Interim National Co-ordinator of Action Forum, Mr Asamoah Atuahene that Smith wanted to see him for an urgent discussion.

He said he went to Smith's office where he met him and the former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who asked Smith to take good care of him since the Action Forum had been assisting the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the grassroots level by organising talks on national issues. Mr Mensah said after Mrs. Rawlings had left, Smith disclosed that he wanted the Action Forum to take up the issue between Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Integration and the Internal Revenue Service.

He was also to serve letters of threats to the two journalists that would be copied to the National Media Commission and other media houses. In addition, he was asked to bring members of the Forum to Accra where they would be given vehicles to track and crash the two journalists. Mr Mensah added that Smith drafted all these plans on a sheet.

Mr Mensah said immediately he left Smith's office, he telephoned Mr Baako about what had transpired between him and Smith and e-mailed Mr Baako a copy of the alleged draft plan. Mr Mensah said Mr Baako during the telephone call, insisted on seeing him personally but he declined and left for Kumasi. When he got to Kumasi, he briefed Mr Atuahene about the meeting but said, he would not be part of the "deal" since they have been working with the press and if they should carry out their plan the press would descend on them.

Mr Mensah said on March 20, this year, at about 08.00 hours, he received a call again from Smith asking him to read that day's Crusading Guide on the publication of the alleged letters adding that, he would call back. After reading the paper, Mr Mensah said Smith called and asked him to come to Accra to enable the two to investigate how Mr Baako received that information. He said, "I was later asked by the Police Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to write a statement in respect of the matter.

The Defence Counsel, Dr Ben Kumbour continued his cross-examination of Mrs. Amoakohene. Mrs. Amoakohene disagreed with counsel that an open letter was addressed to the world and not any specific person. She said when the letter was shown to her, Mr Baako did not disclose his source because as journalists they were not expected to do that. Mrs. Amoakohene said she could not tell, who published the threatening letter first.

She agreed with Counsel that it was the content of the letter that made her seek refuge with the Police and said: "My life was in danger." When asked by Counsel whether she would be surprise to hear that Mr Baako, who presented the threatening letter to her, did not seek refuge from the Police, Mrs. Amoakohene said: "I will not be surprised because we are different people and everybody reacts to situations differently" she said "If Mr Baako had communicated to me orally about the threats I would have taken the issue with a pinch of salt”.

Smith, an aide to former President Rawlings, has been charged for allegedly issuing threats to Mr Baako Mrs. Amoakohene. He has pleaded not guilty to issuing a threat of death and has been granted 50 million cedis bail.