Audio By Carbonatix
A leading member of the #FixTheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has been charged with treason felony.
This is an offence provided for in section 182(b) of Ghana’s Criminal offences Act.
This provides; “Section 182—Treason Felony. A person is guilty of treason-felony and shall be punishable as for first-degree felony who —
b) prepares or endeavours to carry out by unlawful means any enterprise which usurps the executive power of the State in any matter of both a public and a general nature.“
Last Thursday, Mr Vormawor took to social media to threaten a coup following pictures emerging from the Majority Leader’s 65th birthday bash showing an ‘E-levy’-designed cake.
He posted, “If this E-Levy passes after this cake bullshit, I will do the coup myself. Useless Army!”
In a subsequent post, he explained the context in which he used the word coup.
He was arrested on Friday evening after he arrived from the United Kingdom and there was no word about his whereabouts for hours.
The Police later released a statement about Mr Barker-Vormawor's disappearance.
According to the Police, Mr Barker-Vormawor’s “post contains a clear statement of intent with a possible will to execute a coup in his declaration of intent to subvert the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
On Monday, Prosecutor, DSP Sylvestre Asare, informed the court that the Ashaiman Police received a complaint that Mr Barker-Vormawor was inciting some persons to overthrow government.
He said investigations had revealed that this incitement subsequently took place on social media. This he said formed the basis of the charge against the accused person.
Lawyers for Mr Barker-Vormawor led by Anthony Akoto Ampaw urged the court to grant him bail.
They accused the police of defying a Supreme Court ruling that stated that an accused person must be put before the court within 48 hours with weekends inclusive.
DSP Asare in a sharp rebuttal however pointed out that the Police over the weekend reached out to the Chief Justice hoping to get a court to hear the matter. All efforts, he continued provided futile.
The judge hearing the matter Eleanor Barnes remanded the accused person into police custody pointing out that the nature and severity of the crime meant the court cannot grant bail.
The court also ordered that he should be allowed to see his family and lawyers every day between 10 am and 4 pm.
He is expected to reappear on Monday, February 28.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana’s problems solvable but not with square pegs in round holes
1 hour -
Gospel veteran Dr. Collins Nyantachie returns with soothing album ‘Obe Tumi Ay3’
1 hour -
Sissala West MP launches maiden teacher awards and scholarship scheme
2 hours -
Paramount chief appeals to gov’t to build new regional hospital in Jirapa
2 hours -
Jirapa MP donates bedsheets to St. Joseph Catholic Hospital amidst appeals to upgrade 70-year-old facility
3 hours -
Tamale Central MP: Better schooling key to bridging north-south divide
3 hours -
“An Incredible Ghanaian Enterprise”: Asantehene hails KGL Group at coronation ball
3 hours -
Mahama pledges 40 additional armoured vehicles to bolster police operations
4 hours -
One dead as gunmen attack passenger bus in bloody Walewale-Nasia highway ambush
5 hours -
[Video] Bawumia and Asiedu Nketia unite at SDA anniversary in Sunyani
5 hours -
IGP sounds alarm over police-to-citizen ratio as Lower Manya Krobo gets new HQ
6 hours -
Bringing back ‘By The Fireside’: Ohio University’s Emmanuel Mensah calls for digital entertainment education revival
6 hours -
Chief of Staff announces Presidential Delivery Unit to track government commitments
7 hours -
Barcelona move to within two points of La Liga title with Osasuna win
7 hours -
World Relays: We can’t afford to miss out again” — Amenakpor rallies Ghana after relay setback
7 hours