Six Ghanaians, among them three soldiers, have been condemned to death by hanging for their role in a coup plot that unfolded three years ago.
This marks Ghana’s inaugural treason trial since the overthrow of post-independence leader Kwame Nkrumah in 1966.
The arrests occurred in 2021 in Accra, where the group, including a gunsmith, allegedly tested weapons to overthrow the government.
Despite pleading not guilty, the men were found guilty of high treason and conspiracy to commit high treason, leading to the death sentence.
Defense lawyers plan to appeal in the Supreme Court, while three others, including a senior police officer and two military officers, were acquitted.
The court, citing intercepted communications and testimonies, deemed the evidence against the convicted individuals compelling.
Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, who led the prosecution, praised the court verdict as “significant”.
“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.
Ghana had last carried out an execution in 1992 when it returned to democratic rule.
Last year lawmakers last year voted to abolish the death penalty for ordinary crimes, replacing it with a life sentence
