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Six Ghanaians, including three soldiers, have been sentenced to death by hanging for their involvement in a coup plot three years ago.<\/p>\n
This was the first treason trial in Ghana since 1966 when post-independence leader Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown.<\/p>\n
The six were arrested in 2021 while testing weapons in the capital, Accra, to allegedly topple the government.<\/p>\n
The group, including a gunsmith, pleaded not guilty during a trial that captured the attention of the nation.<\/p>\n
Defence lawyers said they would appeal against the ruling in the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Three other people, including a senior police officer and two military officers, were acquitted.<\/p>\n
There was a heavy security deployment outside the High Court in Accra during the sentencing on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The court found the six guilty of high treason and conspiracy to commit high treason.<\/p>\n
The men were arrested with locally manufactured guns, improvised explosive devices and AK-47 rifles, according to court documents.<\/p>\n
State prosecutors said the group had planned to organise protests, ostensibly to topple President Nana Akufo-Addo<\/a><\/span><\/span>‘s government ahead of the 2020 general elections.<\/p>\n The court said it found the evidence against the men, including intercepted communications and testimonies, compelling.<\/p>\n Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, who led the prosecution, praised the court verdict as “significant”.<\/p>\n “The constitution of Ghana as the fundamental law of the country, which has sustained the stability of the nation, frowns seriously upon any attempt to overthrow a government and that is why that offence [treason] is punishable by death,” Mr Dame said.<\/p>\n Ghana had last carried out an execution in 1992 when it returned to democratic rule.<\/p>\n Last year lawmakers last year voted to abolish the death penalty for ordinary crimes, replacing it with a life sentence.<\/p>\n <\/div>\nYou might also be interested in:<\/h3>\n