Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, the fifth accused person in the ongoing treason trial of ten individuals, has denied allegations of aiding high treason.
While admitting to knowing the late Dr Frederick Mac-Palm and Johannes Zikpi, a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Colonel Gameli stated that he had no knowledge of the other accused persons in the case.
His denial came during his testimony at the High Court, where Justices Hafisata Amaleboba, Stephen Oppong, and Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe presided over the trial.
Colonel Gameli stated, “That I have been charged with the offence of abetment of crime to wit High Treason. That I deny the charge and say that I have not done anything to abet the crime I have been charged with and I do not know anything about the charges of the other accused in this case.”
Providing context, Colonel Gameli mentioned that he had been a patient of Dr Mac-Palm since 2015, seeking treatment for severe waist pains.
He explained that Brigadier-General Ntem, a friend of his, had introduced him to Dr Mac-Palm, who was supposedly a former schoolmate.
Over time, Colonel Gameli and his family became patients of Dr Mac-Palm, and they developed a friendship, often visiting the Citadel Hospital where the doctor practised.
The court learned that in early 2017, Dr Mac-Palm informed Colonel Gameli of his need to install CCTV cameras at his house near Dodowa. As a result, Colonel Gameli introduced Zikpi to Dr Mac-Palm to handle the installation. On occasion, Colonel Gameli encountered Zikpi in the company of Dr Mac-Palm during his visits.
They would socialize, and share meals and drinks, although Colonel Gameli stated that he did not inquire about the specifics of their discussions.
However, upon overhearing the mention of communication equipment (gota) during one of their conversations, Colonel Gameli decided to later inquire from Dr Mac-Palm about its purpose.
He clarified that he did not report anything to his superiors as he did not possess sufficient evidence regarding the purpose of the equipment, emphasizing the need for senior officers to have substantial evidence before reporting suspicions.
Colonel Gameli vehemently denied having any knowledge or evidence of a plot to overthrow Ghana's constitutionally elected government, let alone assisting Dr Mac-Palm in such a scheme.
The ten accused individuals facing charges related to high treason include the late Dr Frederick Mac-Palm, Donya Kafui alias Ezor, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu alias Bright Alan Yeboah alias BB, Johannes Zikpi, Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Warrant Officer Class II Esther Saan Dekuwine, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Airforce Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Kwasi Agodzo.
All the accused individuals have denied their involvement in the alleged crime, with most of them currently out on bail, except for WOII Dekuwine, whose bail was recently revoked.
