Face Of Lone 'Coup Maker'

Nana Boahen The bizarre lone coup-maker, who stormed the Broadcasting House, headquarters of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on Tuesday, is recuperating at the Police Hospital, Accra after he was shot in the leg by a soldier.

The story evoked lengthy discussions on some radio and TV stations yesterday but perhaps the most interesting intervention was from a staff of the GBC, who sought to downplay the seriousness of the intrusion.

The GBC staffer, who rubbished the story as published yesterday as untrue was coincidentally the author of the news item as it appeared on the corporation's website soon after it happened.

The Nima Police, who are handling the case, are awaiting the recovery of the suspect before arraigning him.

Twenty six year old Nana Boahen last Tuesday dropped off from a taxi and headed for the bowels of the Broadcasting House with the intention, as he put it, to “stage a coup d'états so that he too would become popular”.

After a physical encounter with an internal security man and later a soldier who would not allow him entry, the junkie-like character was shot in the leg.

The lone shot attracted the attention of the staff of the premier broadcasting house for a while until a picture of what had occurred became clear.

Perhaps one thing that the Police would want to know is whether the suspect is of sound mind and his real motive for the daring action he undertook at a state facility which is under 24-hour guard using a cutlass.

Happening at a time when the special voting was taking place, news about Nana Boahen's mission created a certain anxiety among those who heard the story on air. By A.R. Gomda