Barker-Vormawor was charged with treason felony in 2022 after being arrested by National Security operatives for threatening a coup if Parliament passed the then-controversial E-Levy bill, which was later enacted into law.

His arrest and prosecution sparked widespread debate and condemnation from civil society groups, raising concerns over free speech in Ghana.

Barker-Vormawor, who lost his Cambridge scholarship due to the treason trial, is the latest beneficiary of the new Attorney General’s decision to discontinue certain high-profile cases initiated by the previous administration.

The trial, which lasted two years, barely progressed as the Prosecution failed to present evidence beyond the accused’s social media post. If convicted, Barker-Vormawor faced either the death penalty or life imprisonment.

The Attorney General’s decision to drop the case adds to a growing list of high-profile prosecutions halted since assuming office.

Neither Barker-Vormawor nor his lawyers were present when the case was called on Tuesday, March 18.

Principal State Attorney Esi Dentaa Yankah introduced the Prosecution’s team, but proceedings were brief.

Trial judge Justice Mary Ekua Yanzu acknowledged the Attorney General’s nolle prosequi and ruled, “The charges have been struck out, and the accused person is discharged.”

Barker-Vormawor has since taken to social media to express gratitude to those who supported him throughout the trial.

ALSO READ:

• DPP presents evidence in treason felony case against Oliver Barker-Vormawor

• Oliver Barker-Vormawor fumes as his treason trial is adjourned again

Per the copy of the bill, Mr Barker-Vormawor has been charged with two counts of treason felony.

The bill of indictment will pave the way for the Ashaiman District Court to commit the accused on the charges.

Committal 

At the committal stage, if the magistrate finds the convener to have a case to answer for his conduct, he will be committed to stand trial at the High Court on the charges recommended by the A-G.

Some of the evidence the prosecution will be relying on for the prosecution include Mr Barker-Vormawor’s investigation cautioned statements, his charge sheet, charge statements, his Facebook and Twitter posts, and an intelligence report from the Cybercrime Unit of Ghana Police Service, and intelligence reports from the National Security Ministry.

The state intends to call three witnesses for the trial.

Evidence summary 

According to the summary of evidence captured in the bill of indictment, the complainant on February 11, this year saw a post by the accused person which stated that: “If this E-levy passes after this cake bullshit, I will do the coup myself. Useless Army!”

The case investigator who led the cybercrime unit of the Criminal Investigations Department said on Tuesday February 1, 2022 during his routine 24-hour cyber surveillance and social media monitoring, picked up information on Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s Facebook which stated “Year of Coups” on his Facebook account.

According to the summary, by Wednesday March 9, 2022, the “likes” on the said posts were 255 and the comments 83.

It further stated that the investigator’s analysis of the “comments” section of the post made on February 1, 2022, indicated that the accused had managed to convince a number of people of the need to usurp the executive powers of the Republic through a violent overthrow of the Constitution.

That, according to the bill of indictment, led the investigator to immediately inform his superiors about the intelligence he gathered for their onward action

On Wednesday, December 23, 2022, at 4:48 a.m, the accused made a post on his Facebook profile stating: “Your Democracy! Your Human rights activist President Akufo-Addo is a fraud! Dear Ghana Police Service, I am waiting for my arrest. Nansins Republic.”

The accused is said to have tagged the official Facebook pages of the President of Ghana and the Ghana Police Service.

In another instance, the accused is said to have posted: “This Attorney-General does not fear God. He is claiming that the sick and bedridden Chieftaincy Minister actually went into the chambers and voted for the E-levy even though we all saw that the guy was stuck in his ambulance.

If the Supreme Court actually throws away the last of its dignity to join the puppet master in that deception, all just to punish Ghanaians with E-levy at all cost, so that Article 71 holders can live large at the expense of the people, then at this juncture dier, we have crossed the rubicon of no return and I will do the coup myself. Useless Army.”

The post, according to the bill of indictment, generated over 400 comments with 70 per cent of his followers supporting his intentions to orchestrate a coup in Ghana.

Arrest

Mr Barker-Vormawor was arrested in February this year by the police for “threatening to stage a coup”.

The accused, through his lawyers secured bail at the Tema High Court in the sum of GH¢2 million with two sureties.