In a rare judicial development, the High Court has granted bail to one of the six persons sentenced to death by hanging for attempting to overthrow the government, offering a fresh twist in Ghana’s most talked-about treason case in recent years.
The convict, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, a fleet manager by profession, was granted bail in the sum of GH¢2.5 million with two sureties to be justified, pending the outcome of his appeal against the death sentence. The decision marks a significant step in the post-trial proceedings that have continued to attract nationwide attention since the convictions were handed down in November 2023.
A Landmark Decision in a High-Profile Case
Legal analysts have described the High Court’s decision as unusual, given that persons sentenced to death are rarely granted bail while awaiting appeal. The ruling, however, underscores the judiciary’s recognition of the right to appeal and the presumption of innocence until all legal avenues are exhausted.
Debrah was among six individuals found guilty of conspiracy to commit high treason and committing high treason, after the court ruled that they plotted to destabilise the state and remove the constitutionally elected government through unlawful means.
The others sentenced alongside him were Donya Kafui alias Ezor, a blacksmith; Johannes Zikpi, a civilian employee of the Ghana Armed Forces; and three military officers — WO II Esther Saan Dekuwine, L/Cpl Ali Solomon, and Cpl Sylvester Akanpewon.
Background to the Treason Trial
The high-stakes trial began in April 2021 and became one of the most closely followed legal battles in Ghana’s recent history. Prosecutors alleged that the accused had manufactured weapons and drawn up plans to attack key state installations as part of a plot to overthrow the government.
After a lengthy legal process, the court convicted the six, sentencing them to death by hanging. Three others — ACP Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, Col. Samuel Kodzo Gameli, and Cpl. Seidu Abubakar — were acquitted and discharged after being found not guilty of abetment and conspiracy charges.
The prosecution, led by then-Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, presented 13 witnesses, including seven serving military officers, to build its case.
The Road Ahead
Debrah’s bail opens a new chapter in the case, as his legal team prepares to argue for the overturning of his conviction before the appellate court. The decision also reignites public debate over the use of the death penalty and the fairness of Ghana’s treason laws.
Observers say the outcome of the appeal could have far-reaching implications for how the courts handle cases involving national security and political dissent.
For now, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu walks free — at least temporarily — as he awaits what could become one of Ghana’s most consequential appeal hearings in recent memory.
