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Ghana Says Security Forces Foiled Plot Targeting Presidency

Ghana Says Security Forces Foiled Plot Targeting Presidency

(Bloomberg) -- Ghana’s security forces arrested three people and seized arms in connection with activities surveyed over the last 15 months, which were targeted at the presidency.

“The joint operation was to neutralize an elaborate plot targeted at the presidency, and with the ultimate aim of destabilizing the country,” the Ministry of Information said in an emailed statement. Between June and August 2018 one of the suspects contacted a number of military personnel and discussed how to acquire weapons, take over key security installations and secure funding “for the purpose of taking over the reins of government.”

The lead suspect set up a workshop where production of weapons began in July this year, according to the statement. The arms include eight locally made pistols, a foreign-made pistol, three smoke grenades, 22 improvised explosive devices and 74 AK-47 rifles, the ministry said.

On Sept. 19 at around 11:00 p.m., the three suspects and one soldier went to test some of the weapons at a beach in the capital, Accra. The following day, a team of security personnel undertook the operation that led to their arrest.

To contact the reporter on this story: Moses Mozart Dzawu in Accra at mdzawu@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andre Janse van Vuuren at ajansevanvuu@bloomberg.net, Helen Nyambura

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