By William
Yaw Owusu
Wednesday
March 28, 2018
The police yesterday arrested foul-mouthed opposition
National Democratic Congress (NDC) deputy general secretary, Koku Anyidoho, for
allegedly plotting to overthrow the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
On Monday Mr Anyidoho, in what looked like a show of
bravado, declared on radio that he was leading a movement to overthrow
President Akufo-Addo’s government and even went to the extent of saying that
the ‘uprising’ is commencing today (Wednesday).
The deputy general secretary, who was subsequently
arrested and detained, has been charged with treason.
“Somebody should tell Nana Addo (President
Akufo-Addo) that history has a very interesting way of repeating itself,” he boasted
on Happy FM, adding, “On the 13th of
January, 1972, a certain Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong led an insurrection
that removed the Progress Party from power. Busia was the Prime Minister and
Akufo-Addo’s father was the ceremonial President.”
Civilian
Coup d’état
He proclaimed, “There will be a civilian coup
d’état. There will be a social revolution. We are starting it on Wednesday. The
movement is starting on Wednesday. Nana Addo will have sleepless nights. He
will suffer diarrhea. He said he wanted to be president, but we will make sure
he will be fed up on the seat.”
When the host drew his attention to the fact that he
was entering into a ‘dangerous arena’ with his comments, Koku Anyidoho insisted,
“History has a way of repeating itself. There will be a civil revolt, there
will be a people’s movement!”
Treasonable
Act
The comments sparked heated debate on radio and
other social media platforms where some condemned him outright whilst others even
called for his immediate arrest and prosecution.
Press
Conference
He appeared to have gone into hiding after the
comment when it became apparent that the security agencies were on his heels.
In a dramatic fashion, he resurfaced at the
International Press Centre in Accra - which is not too far from the Police
Headquarters - to hold a press conference on the Ghana/United States Military
Cooperation Agreement that was ratified by parliament last Friday.
The media announcement, which was signed by Koku
Anyidoho on behalf of a group he called All Progressive Forces, read, “All Progressive
Forces in Ghana shall gather at the International Press Center, tomorrow,
Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at 11am, to engage the press in relation to the
impending massive demonstration on Wednesday, as regards President Akufo-Addo
and his NPP MPs’ despicable attempt to sell off Ghana’s independence and
dignity to Donald Trump’s Shithole American interest. Come one; come all!”
Press
Centre Drama
The police was almost swerved on the whereabouts of
Koku Anyidoho in the initial stages when some NDC sympathizers created the
impression that the press conference being held to denounce the Military Cooperation
Agreement was going to take place at the Freedom Centre at Kokomlemle, Accra,
where the NDC elements often plan their demonstrations.
The police, some in plain clothes, then stormed the
press centre but waited for Anyidoho and his gang to finish their address to
the media and then pounced on him.
Initially, he sat in the police vehicle but changed
his mind and said he was going to walk with the policemen to the CID headquarters.
The police obliged and followed him in the company
of some opposition elements to the headquarters.
Notable among those who accompanied him were NDC
General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia aka General Mosquito, who was wearing
a green and white smock and the People’s National Convention (PNC) Chairman,
Bernard Mornah - who was recently detained by the police for leading some
Togolese opposition elements to demonstrate in Accra without permit.
Earlier
Comments
DAILY
GUIDE understands that Koku Anyidoho started his treasonable comments
last Friday when parliament was considering the Joint Military Cooperation
Agreement.
He had served notice on radio during recess that it
would be in the interest of President Akufo-Addo and his NPP government not to ratify
the agreement and added that if that happened, they were going to make Ghana
ungovernable.
Mosquito’s
Version
Even the party’s General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia
(Gen Mosquito) appeared to have endorsed Koku Anyidoho’s comments last Friday when
he tried to link it to the political situation in neighbouring Togo.
He had said specifically that when there were
political disturbances in Togo that government brought in French troops, who he
claimed are still in that country, and as a result of their presence, the
opposition parties are not able to remove President Faure Gnassingbé and his
government from office.
Gen Mosquito said the French troops were in Togo
because of the military pact that country has with France and implied that if
Ghana signs a similar thing with the US, it might make it difficult for adventurists
to remove the government here.
NDC
Gurus
Later, NDC Chairman Kofi Portuphy stormed the police
headquarters to show solidarity with Koku Anyidoho.
Betty Mould-Iddrisu, former Attorney General and
Minister of Justice under whose tenure Alfred Agbesi Woyome was allowed to cash
GH¢51.2 million for no work done per the declaration of the Supreme Court, as
well as Felix Kwakye Ofosu, former deputy minister who is noted for his verbal
attacks on President Akufo-Addo, were there to also lend their support.
Koku was later sent to his house by the police to
search the place.
Scores of NDC supporters had partially blocked the Osu-Ring
Road in front of the police headquarters, despite the presence of heavily armed
police personnel.
As a result, there was heavy traffic on the route
from Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Osu.
CID
Boss
Later, CID Director General, DCOP Maame Yaa Tiwaa
Addo Danquah, confirmed the arrest of Koku Anyidoho to DAILY GUIDE and said he was
going to be “interrogated.”
She underscored, “We have to find out. Maybe,
somebody is planning something evil. We will analyse and assess his statements
and make sure that the citizens of this country are protected.”
Gov’t
Reacts
Meanwhile, the government has condemned Koku Anyidoho’s
“treasonable” comments, saying it is worrying that the NDC is reluctant to
condemn its member.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Dr.
Mustapha Abdul Hamid, Information Minister, said, “We find the NDC’s reluctance
to condemn Anyidoho as particularly disturbing because Anyidoho alleged that ‘the
coup’ is starting on Wednesday,’ and we know that the demonstration on
Wednesday has the full endorsement of the NDC.
“It is, therefore, important that the NDC
demonstrates its commitment to democratic governance by showing that the
Wednesday demonstration is not a smokescreen for fomenting insurrection as
Anyidoho claims.”
The statement assured the public that the government
“will take appropriate steps within the bounds of the law to protect the
security of the state.”
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