In emotional proceedings on Monday, prosecutors and lawyers for the first and second accused persons in the murder case of Lance Corporal Michael Danso – a soldier who was killed at the Kasoa Millennium City Police Station in April 2024 – took turns outlining their theories to a seven-member jury.
The prosecution, led by Salomey Salaasie, captivated jurors with an opening statement laced with Bible quotations, aiming to persuade them toward a favorable verdict. The prosecution’s case is that Ben Lord Ababio, a national security operative and the first accused person, murdered the deceased soldier after conspiring with the second accused person, Nana Kofi Amo Gyekye.
According to the facts presented, on April 30, 2024, at around 1600 hours, Lance Corporal Michael Danso and two colleagues – Lance Corporal Abdul Omar Rahman and Ametus Mattew – visited land belonging to Lance Corporal Omar Abdul Rahman after being informed about trespassing.
Upon arrival and questioning why the land was being developed despite a prohibition order, the second accused person allegedly called the first accused person, who arrived with about fifteen additional land guards. Their presence reportedly resulted in an altercation.
The facts further state that Lance Corporal Michael Danso and his colleagues drove to the Millennium City Police Station in a Toyota RAV4 to report the trespass. The prosecution alleges that Ben Lord Ababio, popularly known as Nana Barima, followed the officers to the police station and opened fire on Lance Corporal Michael Danso while he was driving the vehicle, killing him instantly.
The prosecution further submitted that the first accused person was subsequently disarmed by police and arrested, leading to the arrest of the second accused person, Nana Kofi Amo Gyekye, also known as Nana Fiifi.
In conclusion, the state attorney quoted Leviticus Chapter 24, verse 17: “Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, lawyer for the first accused person, spoke directly to jurors in his opening statement. He argued that Ben Lord Ababio is not a common criminal but a national security operative who “has given his life to this country by going undercover to investigate bad people.”
He explained he took the case because he saw humanity in Ababio while they were together at Nsawam Medium Security Prison, and appealed to jurors to recognize this humanity. He posed the key question jurors should consider: whether Ababio and Gyekye planned to kill the deceased or if his death was accidental. Concluding, Mr. Barker-Vormawor urged jurors “not to always look for a monster to hang anytime someone is killed.”
Frank Kumado, lawyer for the second accused person, asked jurors to remain resolute and “not to be moved by some of the prosecution’s pronouncements.”
Trial judge Her Ladyship Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie set May 21 as the next hearing date. Granting a request by the first accused’s lawyer, she ordered the court registry to present evidence, including the murder weapon, a mobile phone, and land documents at the next hearing.
She also directed the Kasoa Millennium City Police Station to provide the court with their station diary report and actions taken prior to the shooting incident, as requested by the second accused’s lawyer.
The prosecution told the court the postmortem report shows Lance Corporal Michael Danso died from head injuries and a high-velocity gunshot wound, and plans to call seven witnesses to corroborate its account.
Two other alleged accomplices, Oteng and Salisu, remain at large