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
-
‘Next of kin’ does not grant inheritance rights — Lawyer
1 minute -
Army leadership hails troops, unity and security gains at 2025 WASSA
8 minutes -
Ghana-Nigeria trade rift looms amid legal dispute – UK Certified Customer Communication and Marketer warns
15 minutes -
Prudential Life joins education stakeholders to encourage financial literacy in education curriculum
23 minutes -
‘Next of kin’ does not grant inheritance rights – Lawyer
54 minutes -
BoG Governor says reforms will shield Ghana from another financial meltdown
1 hour -
BoG to shift banking supervision to risk-based model – Governor outlines strategy for 2026
1 hour -
BoG Governor targets 10% NPL ratio by end of 2026
1 hour -
Nicki Minaj surprises conservatives with praise for Trump, Vance at Arizona event
2 hours -
‘The Wire,’ actor James Ransone dies by apparent suicide at 46
2 hours -
Bristol University threatened with legal action after protest at academic’s talk
2 hours -
US launches review of advanced Nvidia AI chip sales to China, sources say
2 hours -
2 nurses, security guard arrested over alleged baby theft at Tamale hospital
2 hours -
Elon Musk becomes first person worth $700 billion following pay package ruling
3 hours -
Fussy eaters and TV remote hogs: How to avoid family rows over Christmas
3 hours
