A group of youth from the Upper West Region of Ghana, Justice for W.O. II Saan has petitioned President Akufo-Addo to as a matter of urgency facilitate her release W.O. II Esther Saan, the lone female military officer who was arrested, charged and detained together with about ten other persons alleged to have been plotting to distabilised the country through a coup d’états.
In the petition sighted by Awake News, the Convener for the Justice for W.O. II Saan, Mr. David Jawara whiles appealing to the President for the release of the six months old nursing mother said the group and the family of the Military officer though “do not intent to interfere with the national security community of the state since we have no mandate to do so” have done their “own parallel checks to unearth any role she might have played for which she was arrested and charged”.
And according to Mr. Jawara, the finding from their “parallel checks” could not fine anything linking W.O. II Saan to the alleged crime she was being charged with accept being a friend to one of the accused, Bright Alan Debrah and being the “Take Action” WhatsApp platform.
“That her only linkage to the crime emanates from her association with one of the suspects called Bright Alan Debrah and the fact that she was a member of a platform called “Take Action”.”
“But it is a fact that association/friendship does not necessarily make a person an accomplice.”
Describing the Officers arrest and charge as “unfounded” has said the arrest of the Officer for her alleged involvement to “destabilize the country and possibly overthrow a democratically elected government”, no evidence has been produced supports the allegations.
“Indeed, she neither had any such intention nor does she have the capability to commit such a treasonable offense.”
Mr. Jawara revealed “That before, during and after her arrest and detention, no official search has so far been conducted in her house or office by the security and intelligence community to establish the truth or otherwise. Indeed, no arms and ammunition, explosives, subversive or incriminating documents/materials has been found in her possession and/or retrieved.”
He maintained that “if the investigative structures, processes, intelligence assessment and analysis were carried out effectively and speedily, W.O. II Saan would have likely been declared innocent and consequently acquitted.”
“It is apparent that WO II Saan is being detained to endure unnecessary injustice and/or obstruction of justice by seemingly abusive/punitive authorities and officials who have either failed or are unwilling to gather adequate and tangible intelligence information and promptly disseminate it to the courts and other relevant authorities to take action” – Mr. Jawara said
Mr. Jawara who is a security expert has also ceased the opportunity to remind President of “similar treasonable charges that were leveled against Col. Gbevelo Lartey (retired) during President Kuffour’s reign” which “after impartial, professional and independent investigations were conducted” it turned out that “the allegations were completely unfounded—In fact, the allegations leveled against Col. Gbevelo Lartey (retired) were blatantly fabricated and carefully orchestrated by exploitative civilians and security officials ostensibly to acquire wealth or gain promotion.”
Read the full petition:
26th February 2020
H.E. PRESIDENT NANA AKOFFU ADDO
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA
FLAG STAFF HOUSE
ACCRA
Dear Mr. President,
APPEAL FOR THE RELEASE OF W.O II ESTHER DEKUWINE SAAN WHO WAS ARRESTED ALONGSIDE OTHERS AND CHARGED WITH TREASON ON ALLEGATIONS OF PLOTTING TO DESTABILISE THE COUNTRY
Your Excellency, President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander–in–Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), it is a great honour to have you as the president of our great nation. And it is worth remarking that you are one of the greatest presidents of the 21st century who is imbued with inspirational leadership, compassion and a firm commitment to democratic principles—protecting human rights and civil liberties whilst ensuring the welfare of ordinary citizens.
Your Excellency, we the concerned youth of the Upper West Region humbly extend to you our sincere greetings and also pray for your good health and uninterrupted leadership so that you may continue with your poverty reduction policies and strategies that are having a tremendous positive impact on millions of ordinary citizens. We are indeed grateful for your foresight, positive direction and good sense of office.
Your Excellency, we are equally thankful to the hierarchy of the National Security Community, the Minister for Interior, IGP, CDS and other stakeholders for relentlessly maintaining peace, order and stability, which is the paramount task of every government without which no development takes place.
We are particularly grateful to the national security machinery for conducting itself in a professional manner, even when dealing with sensitive security issues such as treasonable offenses against the state. We are equally aware of the implications or consequences of coup d’états or plotting to destabilize a nation-state. As loyal
citizens, we will continue to uphold and advance the course of democracy and good governance whilst entreating others to do same.
Your Excellency, we seize this opportunity to reaffirm our trust and confidence in our a bled judges and the judiciary system. Nonetheless, we will not hesitate to urge them to continue to be the true custodians of justice and fairness in our sometimes chequered and troubled society.
Your Excellency, we admit that human rights, civil liberties and justice are fundamental to any democratic society. And the rule of law has so far triumphed under your leadership.
Your Excellency, we the youth from the region are confronted with and worried over an unfortunate incident—the arrest and detention/trial of W.O. II Esther Saan, a constituent of our region. W. O. II Esther Saan had been diligently serving the GAF until her arrest and detention on “allegations of plotting to destabilize the country and possibly take over the government.”She is just not the only female among those arrested and charged for treason, but is also a nursing mother. Her child’s health is in a precarious balance, having been severely jeopardized as a result of her detention and separation with such earthquake suddenness. It is with profound grief that we are sharing our sister’s horrifying plight with you.
We believe that you are running a government of unity, peace and integrity; no doubt you are always passionate over democratic ideals—ensuring the rule of law, human rights and natural justice.
Your Excellency, as concerned citizens, we have been worried over WO II Saan’s perilous situation and thought it wise to conduct our own investigations into her alleged treasonable conduct. We are law-abiding citizens and do not intent to interfere with the national security community of the state since we have no mandate to do so. However, we did our own parallel checks to unearth any role she might have played for which she was arrested and charged.
Your Excellency, we duly summit to you some of the reasons for which we think W.O.
- Saan is innocent and are therefore humbly appealing to you to facilitate her release.
- That the alleged involvement of W.O. II Saan to “destabilize the country and possibly overthrow a democratically elected government” is unfounded because since her arrest no evidence supports this argument. Indeed, she neither had any such intention nor does she have the capability to commit such a treasonable offense.
- That her only linkage to the crime emanates from her association with one of the suspects called Bright Alan Debrah and the fact that she was a member of a platform called “Take Action”. But it is a fact that association/friendship does not necessarily make a person an accomplice.
- That before, during and after her arrest and detention, no official search has so far been conducted in her house or office by the security and intelligence community to establish the truth or otherwise. Indeed, no arms and ammunition, explosives, subversive or incriminating documents/materials has been found in her possession and/or retrieved.
- That she is a nursing mother who has been denied her fundamental responsibility of loving and caring for her child—for a mother is naturally committed to the nurturance and wellbeing of her baby. As a result, the child’s health is severely jeopardized and W.O. II Saan is ultimately traumatized by this sudden and continued separation from her baby.
- That W.O. II Saan has been loyal and professional, a true servant of the state and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for years and has never contemplated undertaking any clandestine activities to overthrow a ruling government.
- As a dedicated woman in uniform, she is non-partisan and is neither opposed to the NPP- led government for which you are the president nor any other political party
- That if the investigative structures, processes, intelligence assessment and analysis were carried out effectively and speedily, W.O. II Saan would have likely been declared innocent and consequently acquitted.
- It is apparent that WO II Saan is being detained to endure unnecessary injustice and/or obstruction of justice by seemingly abusive/punitive authorities and officials who have either failed or are unwilling to gather adequate and tangible intelligence information and promptly disseminate it to the courts and other relevant authorities to take action
- Globally, there have been several instances in which innocent people were arrested, tried and jailed for crimes they neither committed nor had any clue whatsoever; and if lucky, only to be released after decades-long suffering. This often occurs as a result of our capacity (prosecutors, judges and jury)to rush through information processes and judgments, ignore plain facts and believe what they want to believe. Such “motivation towards skepticism” is informed by the typical prejudicial disposition to reject information that doesn’t support our beliefs or stand and to essentially satisfy our parochial interest.
- That W.O. II Saan has no any criminal or treasonable record and therefore poses no threat to peace, security and stability of the nation if your high office decides to grant her release/bail/pardon.
- That our courage and inspiration to appeal for her release stems from the somber reflection which your government and the court exhibited before granting bail to both ACP Agodzor and Gershon Akpah
Your Excellency, from the above brief clues we have gathered as concerned Youth, we are once more appealing to you to as a matter of urgency facilitate her release. And the decision to apply leverage to our plea for her freedom rests with you and your government. Indeed, we sincerely believe that if an independent body delves into the merits of the case, we can assure Your Excellency that the results would most likely contradict and nullify the charges.
As youth from the region and the country, we are ready and prepared to report any radical element(s) or subversive activities with the potential to destabilizing the state during Your Presidency to the appropriate authority to take action.
We will continue to support your government to succeed in all its policies and programs. But we find it equally prudent to remind you of similar treasonable charges that were leveled against Col. Gbevelo Lartey (retired) during President Kuffour’s reign. However, after impartial, professional and independent investigations were conducted, the allegations were completely unfounded—In fact, the allegations leveled against Col. Gbevelo Lartey (retired) were blatantly fabricated and carefully orchestrated by exploitative civilians and security officials ostensibly to acquire wealth or gain promotion.
Your Excellency, we are quite aware that the case is before court, so we are very mindful not to be cited for contempt of court, hence our humble plea.
We pledge to remain faithful to your government and its progressive policies and pray that no fundamentally undemocratic elements/forces should dare contemplate destabilizing your government and the nation.
Your Excellency, we thank you very much; we hope and Prayer that W.O. II Saan would be treated fairly and consequently released or pardoned upon receiving our humble plea.
Long Live your Excellency
Long Live Ghana
Thank you.
David Jawara
Convener of Justice for W.O. II Saan
Mob: 0555626621
CC:
The Chief Justice
Supreme Court of Ghana
Accra
The Attorney-General
Ministry of Justice
Accra
The Inspector General of Police
GPS, HQs
Accra
The Minister
Ministry of National Security
Accra
The National Security Coordinator
Ministry of National Security
Accra
The Director
BNI, Accra
The Chief of Defence Staff
GAF, HQs
Burma Champ
Accra