Three Ghanaians believed to be leading a group linked to Wagner in Russia have been apprehended by the police at Diabene, a community in the Western Region of Ghana.
They have since been granted bail after they were paraded before the Takoradi Harbour Circuit Court.
The suspects, whose names have been given as Michael Asiedu, 23, Ernest Asiedu, 26, and Evans, 25, are said to have been arrested after they organized some young people to stage a demonstration to announce their presence in the community.
They are said to have amassed about 15 other young people believed to be senior high school (SHS) students to execute their agenda.
Some members of the community who spoke to Connect FM’s Omanabpa morning show indicated that the suspects – who are known to be unemployed – started showing off luxurious lifestyles which got many of them wondering.
“We know that they are unemployed but all of a sudden, they brought cars and started showing us money in their accounts. They were telling us they had sponsors from Australia and needed to show them evidence of their activities. We only got to know about their plans after the police came to apprehend them,” a community member said.
Information gathered by 3news.com indicates that contact was initially established with Michael Asiedu through a Facebook page that publishes pro-Russia content.
It is believed that there have been some wired transfers to the accounts of the suspects which were used for the demonstration.
Part of the money were used to purchase and print T-shirts, flags, and hire machines for the protest.
They have also been influenced to recruit more youth onboard.
They had also printed T-shirts with the inscription ‘PMC WGNER GROUP’.
They went ahead to organize the protest in support of Russia but the police had a hint and got them arrested.
A community member who hired his sound speakers to the suspects tells 3news.com he was shocked after he heard their plans.
“I was wondering where they got the money from and their purpose when they came to hire my speakers but I could not ask them any questions. I gave them a price and they paid so I asked my boys to arrange the speakers for them on the day of the protest.
“All of a sudden, the police came to arrest them including my boys. The police showed us pictures of their activities and I realized I made a mistake renting out my machines to them.
“As I speak now, my machines are still with the police,” Nana Fynn indicated.
One of the spinners (name withheld) who was arrested together with the suspects indicates that whilst they were in the cell, the suspects confessed to receiving an undisclosed amount of money from their financier in Australia with the promise that more would be remitted after the protest.
“They have caused the police to arrest me as well so we tried to find out their motive. Unknowingly they have received money from someone in Australia for their protest and they have been promised more if they show them pictures of the protest.
“They are young boys but the money they spent for the protest was huge. I was angry with them for involving us in such an act but we had already been arrested,” he indicated.
By Eric Nana Gyetuah|Connect FM|3news.com|Ghana