2019 Ghana coup: The involvement of the US in regime change operations in Africa is well known. Some of the earliest foreign military interventions or engagements by the US took place on the continent, and these interventions were carried out overtly or covertly to secure the US’s strategic interests in Africa. From Congo to Chad, and Libya, the US has meddled in the internal affairs of many countries. It may not always be possible to prove such interference by the US, but we can surely connect the dots. As we connect the dots, it appears that the US may have played a role in Ghana’s recent political events. Let’s discuss.
Ghana coup attempt, 2019
It was reported in 2019 that the Ghanaian government led by Akufo-Addo faced a Ghana coup attempt, which was successfully foiled by the security operatives, as announced by Ghana’s information ministry.
The government stated in a Twitter post that the plot, which was targeting the presidency, had “the ultimate aim of destabilizing the country.” The government had reportedly monitored the activities of the plotters for 15 months, leading to the arrest of three plotters and seizure of weapons.
According to the Ghanaian government, a group called Take Action Ghana (TAG) was working to recruit and radicalize young people against the political authorities under the guise of “nation-building.” The group was reportedly plotting with serving military officials to procure weapons, take over key installations, and secure funding to take over the government. However, the government was able to arrest the leaders of the group, identified as Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, Ezor Kafui, and Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu.
Similar events have been witnessed in other African countries, such as Ethiopia, where the TPLF fought against the government for two years, but not without foreign support. Similarly, the Take Action Ghana group, which lacked significant resources, could not have taken up arms against the government without foreign assistance. Furthermore, if we examine some recent developments, these speculations seem to be valid.
Key suspect in the alleged coup plot dies
According to a recent report, Frederick Mac-Palm, a key suspect and one of ten individuals standing trial for plotting to overthrow the Ghanaian government, has died just before the final cross-examination of the 2019 Ghana coup plot against Akufo-Addo’s government. Reports indicate that the suspect collapsed in his home and was rushed to Dodoma Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Although private legal practitioner lawyer Kofi Bekao has explained that the death of the key suspect would not impact the case currently pending before the Accra High Court, and the trial of the remaining nine individuals is expected to proceed as scheduled, with the next hearing set for later this week. However, the sudden death of the key suspect just before the final cross-examination raises serious doubts, and his death has left many questions unanswered. The cause of his death is yet to be determined.
Read More: CIA’s African obsession means bombs, bullets and a whole lot of meddling
Foreign hand in key suspects death?
The US’s role in creating trouble in Africa to secure its interests is well-known. Recently, the US was seen backing and sponsoring the TPLF, and even Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki accused the US of supporting Tigrayan rebels during the recent civil war in northern Ethiopia.
Read More: It’s official, USA sponsored TPLF
There is a possibility that Take Action Ghana was supported and instigated by the US, which ultimately led to a failed 2019 Ghana coup attempt to overthrow the Akufo-Addo government. The plotters were arrested, and the key suspect died just before the final cross-examination, with the cause of his sudden death unknown. It sounds like a scene straight out of Hollywood. Is it possible that the key suspect was eliminated after being backed by the US and could have spilled the beans?
There are reasons to believe so.
It is well-known that the US never hesitates to remove unfavorable leaders in Africa or elsewhere and installs a puppet regime. Additionally, we previously mentioned that Ghana is going through a severe economic crisis characterized by debt hardship, currency devaluation, and dwindling foreign exchange reserves. Ghana had even attempted to reduce its dependence on US dollars but later reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a $3 billion bailout loan, and we have not heard anything about its de-dollarization attempt ever since.
Read More: Ghana moves one step closer to dedollarizing its economy
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo received criticism for his handling of the economic crisis, especially for seeking assistance from the IMF, after once promising a “Ghana without aid.”
Furthermore, Ghana accused Burkina Faso of hiring Russian Wagner mercenaries. During a meeting in the United States with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Ghanaian President stated that “Burkina Faso has now made an arrangement to, like Mali, use Wagner forces. I believe a mine in southern Burkina has been allocated to them as a form of payment for their services.” This move seems like a classic attempt to remain in the good books of the US while unnecessarily antagonizing one of its neighbors.
Thus, considering all of this, it is possible that the actor behind the scenes in all of this is none other than the US itself. From the 2019 Ghana coup to the death of the key suspect, everything raises doubts, and while it may not be possible to prove the role of a “behind the scenes” actor at present, the way events have unfolded in Ghana suggests that there is more to the story than meets the eye.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQWhEeP40vI&t=1s