For The Records

Full text of the Police CID Report on investigations into circumstances under which a Senior Prisons Officer facilitated meetings for condemned Prisoner, Charles Quansah, a female visitor purporting to be a Legal Aid Person and others at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison and stay tuned for some “very significant recalls” on the saga of serial murders from the late1990s to 2005.

*1. On 24th July 2003 the Director/CID was invited to the Ministry of Interior by the Minister and was informed that a female lawyer parading as a Legal Aid staff with the support of convict prisoner, Mr. Kwame Peprah (an Ex-Minister) at the Nsawam Medium Prison are trying to persuade Charles Quansah, a Condemned Prisoner convicted for serial murders also at the Prisons to fabricate evidence facilitated by a Prisoner Officer, Supt./Mr. Victor Agbelengor, to implicate some Cabinet Ministers of the present Government contrary to section 213 of Act 29/60.

*2. Following the report received, the Director/CID set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by himself as per the list below to conduct immediate investigation into the allegation.
MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM (SIT)
(i) DCOP/MR. D. ASANTE-APEATU - CHAIRMAN (ii) C/SUPT/MR. P.E. TIMBILLAH – MEMBER (iii) C/SUPT/MR. K.K. AMOAH – MEMBER (iv) SUPT/MR. IL AMPONSAH - MEMBER (v) DSP/MR. DENIS AKOB-DEM - MEMBER (vi) No. 25458 D/SGT. C. ADABA – SECRETARY
SUPPORT SERVICES (TECHINCALAND ESCORT TEAM)
ASP/MR. APPIAH-KUBI – Leader D/INSPR. D. HUKPORTIE – Video Recorder No. 35609 DC/2
Thomas Anyakese – Escort No. 35938 DC/2 Charles Quayson – Escort No. 35940 DC/2
Alhassan Shaibu – Escort No. 35940 DC/2 John Ankomah – Driver
*3. In all three Prison Officers and five Convicts were interviewed/interrogated with the permission of the Director General of Prisons.
PRISON OFFICERS
1. Supt/Mr. Victor Agbelengor 2. PW/Supt. Matilda Oduro 3. Snr. Chief Officer Ken Asamoah
CONVICTS
1. Lawrence Afetorgbor 2. Robert Tolbert aka Burger 3. Adama Welbeck aka Shitto 4. Yaw Tweneboah 5. Charles Ebo Quansah
*4. The interviews/interrogations took place at the CID Headquarters, Accra and at the Nsawam Prison. The visit to the Prison enabled the Team to acquaint themselves with settings and arrangements on the ground.
*5. The Team also interacted with the Director-General of Prisons, Mr. Richard Kuuire and the Offier in charge of the Nsawam Prison, Deputy Director of Prisons, Mr. Eddie K. Baniba. The Standing Orders of the Ghana Prison Service (1960 edition) was made available to the Team.
*6. The interviews/interrogations of the Prison Officers and Convicts were done according to the trend of the story received per the arrangements below.
*(i) SNR. CHIEF OFFICER KEN ASAMOAH (SCO) Subject is the Block Master in-charge of the Special Condemned Cells where convict Charles Ebo Quansah is incarcerated. According to the Senior Chief Officer (SCO), Supt./Mr. Victor Agbelengor met Charles Quansah on four occasions in June this year (2003).
*1st Occasion
THEIR FIRST MEETING WAS ON THE 5TH OF JUNE 2003. QUANSAH REPORTED TO HIM (SCO) AND REQUESTED THAT HE (QUANSAH) BE MARCHED BEFORE THE BLOCK COMMANDER TO PETITION AGAINST HIS SENTENCE AS EX-PRESIDENT RAWLINGS HAD EARLIER CLAIMED HE (QUANSAH) IS AN INNOCENT MADMAN WHO HAS BEEN USED AS A SCAPEGOAT IN THE SERIAL MURDERS AND LATER OPENLY DECLARED AT A JUNE 4TH CELEBRATION THAT, HE (RAWLINGS) KNOWS 15 CABINET MINISTERS IN THE KUFUOR ADMINISTRATION WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE MURDERS OF THE 34 WOMEN.
On their way to see the Block Commander, they met him (Supt/Mr. Agbelengor) and two other Senor Officers including Supt/Mr. Victor Agbelengor standing by the stairs to the Main Office Block. After salutations, Quansah presented his case and Supt/Mr. Agbelengor interrupted (as he is not the Block Commander) that the statement by the Ex-President is a “Political Talk” and should not be taken serious. QUANSAH INTONED THAT HE (QUANSAH) HAS TAKEN THE STATEMENT SERIOUS AND WANTS HIS FREEDOM. ACCORDING TO QUANSAH, BY THE STATEMENT, IT MEANS HE IS INNOCENT AND SHOULD BE FREED. THAT SUPT/MR. AGBELENGOR STATED THAT IF HE DEEMS IT SERIOUS, HE SHOULD LODGE A FORMAL PETITION TO THAT EFFECT. QUANSAH APPEARED TO HAVE ACCEPTED THE ADVICE AND WAS SENT BACK TO THE CELLS.
*2nd Occasion
A few days later Lawrence Afetorgbor, the Office Boy of Supt/Mr. Agbelengor was sent by his master to call Quansah and he personally escorted him to the Superintendent’s office. At the office, he claimed he saw Convict Prisoners, Dr. George Yankey, Kwame Peprah and Ibrahim Adams. That he did not stay on to witness what transpired but left to attend to other duties.
*3rd Occasion
The Office Boy again came to call Quansah for his master and he detailed a Corporal to escort him to the Officer. The Corporal returned to inform him that he saw Convict Prisoners, Victor Serlomey, Dr. Yankey and Mr. Benjilo in the Superintendent’s office. That he left Quansah there and reported back to the Block.
*4th Occasion
Supt/Mr. Agbelengor told him (SCO Ken Asamoah) that he heard from a Prisoner (which enquiries revealed to be Robert Tolbert @ Burger) that IT IS BEING RUMOURED THAT HE (AGBELENGOR) IS PLANNING WITH QUANSAH TO IMPLICATE SOME NPP MINISTERS IN THE SERIAL MURDERS AND AS SUCH HE IS ARRANGING MEETINGS WITH HE (QUANSAH), SOME LAWYERS AND THE CONVICTED EX-MINISTERS. That he (SCO Ken Asamoah) should tell Quansah he has nothing to do with him again. He told Quansah but Quansah refuted the allegation and intimated that he would want to meet with the Superintendent to clear the issue.
He claimed he escorted Quansah to the Infirmary one day after which they proceeded to see the Superintendent in his office. The Superintendent who was then in Supt. Madam Matilda’s office which is adjacent to his saw Quansah and told him (SCO Asamoah) to take Quansah away. That, he went ahead and declared his mission and Supt. Matilda pleaded that Mr. Agbelengor should exercise patience and listen to the convict which he did.
The Superintendent condemned Quansah after which he (SCO) escorted him back to the cells. According to him (SCO), that was the last trip Quansah made to the Superintendent’s office. *(ii) CONVICT PRISONER LAWRENCE AFETORGBOR
He is the Office Boy to Supt/Mr. Agbelengor. He confirmed running several errands for his master including calling convicts. On two separate occasions he was sent by his master to call Charles Quansah but never stayed on to witness what happened.
*(iii) PW/SUPT./MISS MATILDA ODURO
She is the Regional Catering Officer at Nsawam Prison. Her Office is next to Supt./Mr. Victor Agbelengor from the Infirmary direction.
She admitted encountering Charles Quansah on only one occasion in her Office with Supt/Mr. Victor Agbelengor who had then visited her.
On that occasion, she only pleaded with Mr. Agbelengor to grant audience to Quansah as he appeared to have something to put across which he obliged. Quansah on that day, was under the escort of SCO Ken Asamoah. She intimated that, the Supt. reprimanded Quansah for spreading false rumours against him in his bid to assist him (Quansah) on humanitarian grounds and vowed never to have anything to do with Quansah again in that regard.
*(iv) CONVICT PRISONER ROBERT TOLBERT ALIAS BURGER
This Prisoner overheard some inmates of the Prison discussing Charles Quansah and his dealings with the convicted Ex-Ministers through Supt/Mr. Agbelengor, with one Tweneboah leading the discussions. One Mr. Anim alias Wofa Yaw now granted amnesty intoned during the said discussion that, when he gets out of the Prison, he will inform the BNI to investigate the Supt. He (Robert Tolbert) therefore felt this could affect the job of the Supt. so he hinted him. BEFORE THEN, HE REQUESTED ONE ADAMA ALIAS SHITTO, A REMAND PRISONER WHO WAS WITH CHARLES QUANSAH AT THE JAMES FORT PRISON, ACCRA BEFORE HIS CONVICTION TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH FROM QUANSAH WHICH HE DID AND QUANSAH APPARENTLY CONFIRMED THE STORY.
*(V) CONVICT PRISONER ADAMA WELBECK – ALIAS SHITTO
He is a remand prisoner and a friend to Charles Quansah. They were together at the James Fort Prison, Accra. He also heard about the rumour in the yard from “Burger”, a convict prisoner. Because he is a friend to Charles Quansah he was asked by Burger to advise Quansah against it if the story gaining grounds in the yard was true.
WHEN HE MET QUANSAH ON THE ISSUE HE (QUANSAH) CONFIRMED THE STORY BUT ADDED THAT, IT IS THE EX-MINISTERS WHO HAVE PROMISED TO HELP HIM IF HE WAS ABLE TO IMPLICATE SOME MINISTERS IN THE NPP GOVERNMENT IN THE SERIAL MURDERS OF THE 34 WOMEN. THAT QUANSAH FURTHER TOLD HIM THAT, A LADY VISITOR TO THE EX-MINISTERS IS THE ONE WHO IS BEING ASKED TO HELP HIM (QUANSAH). THESE MEETINGS ARE ALWAYS ARRANGED AT THE SUPT/MR. VICTOR AGBELENGOR’S OFFICE WITH THE EX-MINISTERS IN ATTENDANCE.
(VI) CONVICT PRISONER YAW TWENEBOAH
He is a convict prisoner. He is also a Yard Boy as such has access to other blocks by virtue of his position. He claimed to have known Charles whilst both were on remand at the Kumasi Central Prison.
In June 2003, he saw Charles Quansah alone moving towards the condemned cells which was unusual because Condemned Prisoners are always under escort. He therefore approached Quansah and asked him where he was coming from. HE TOLD HIM HE WAS CALLED TO MEET SOME LAWYERS ARRANGED BY THE EX-MINISTERS TO ASSIST HIM SEEK REDRESS. THAT, HE HAS BEEN TOLD BY THE EX-MINISTERS TO IMPLICATE SOME NPP MINISTERS AND THEY WOULD ASSIST HIM IF ONLY HE DOES WHAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED HIM TO DO. He (Tweneboah) advised Quansah against such diabolical plans which he (Quansah) agreed. Three days after the meeting, he went back to Quansah to enquire from him whether he has taken his advice which he answered in the affirmative. Quansah, claimed following a pastoral preaching the previous day he has become a “Born Again” and will not pursue the issue again.
(VII) CONDEMNED PRISONER CHARLES EBO QUANSAH
Subject who is the main character in the allegations confirmed interacting with the Superintendent on four different occasions. This corroborated what was said earlier on by SCO Asamoah. The first was on the verandah; second and third in the Superintendent’s office and the last in Madam Matilda’s office. HE ALSO CONFIRMED MEETING THE CONVICTED EX-MINISTERS IN THE SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE ON THE TWO OCCASIONS BUT THAT HE DID NOT ENGAGE IN ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM. He averted that in the first meeting in the Superintendent’s office, the Superintendent told him that his protest was quite laudable and that some lawyers have been visiting the Prisons so he (Supt.) could arrange so that he (Quansah) could meet any of them after which he went back to his cells.
At the second meeting in his office he met two male Lawyers but cannot recollect their names. Supt/Mr. Agbelengor upon enquiries gave the name of one of the lawyers as one Mr. Hoeyi.
After narrating his story, Convict Prisoner Alhaji Ibrahim Adam according to Quansah, remarked that he has a genuine case and need assistance to appeal against his sentence and he (Quansah) later left for his cells. Quansah claimed that, since his conviction, nobody has ever visited him. However, he claims he has come out on six (6) occasions.
*(1) On 7th September, 2002 he and 13 other convicts met some law students. *(2) Between April and May 2003 he met a lady who claimed to be a Legal Aid person from Legon. *(3) 4 other occasions with Supt/Mr. Victor Agbelengor as said earlier on but all occurring after the June 4rh speech by the Ex-President.
HOWEVER, HE HAS DENIED EVER BEING COACHED BY ANYBODY THROUGH THE ARRANGEMENTS OF SUPT./MR. AGBELENGOR TO IMPLICATE ANY MINISTER IN THE NPP GOVERNMENT. HE CLAIMED TO BE A STAUNCH NPP ACTIVIST. HE HOLDS ON FIRMLY THAT, BY THE STATEMENT OF THE EX-PRESIDENT, IT MEANS HE IS INNOCENT AND THAT, THE EX-PRESIDENT WHO KNOWS THE CULPRITS SHOULD RATHER BE ARRESTED AND PROSECUTED IF HE WILL NOT MENTION THE NAMES.
*(VIII) SUPT./MR. VICTOR AGBELENGOR
This Officer is the Farms Master at the Nsawam Prison. He admitted having invited Condemned Prisoner Charles Quansah unofficially through his office boy to his office on two separate occasions.
He also admitted that Charles Quansah met the Convicted Prisoners (i.e. Ex-Ministers) in his office. The Ex-Ministers usually come to his office to read newspapers or meet their visitors. He intoned that all senior officers at the Prison conduct visits in their respective offices. That, though it is not allowed by the Standing Orders, over the years that has been the practice and more or less a convention.
HE HOWEVER DENIED ANY ARRANGEMENTS TO PROMOTE ANY FORM OF COACHING TO CHARLES QUANSAH TO IMPLICATE ANY MINISTER IN THE NPP GOVERNMENT.
All that he was doing to Charles Quansah was in good faith, only to assist him get a redress to his plight and nothing ominous.
*REMARKS
The Investigations revealed that, visitors to the Prisons by the provisions of the Ghana Prisons Standing Orders are to be met by the prisoners only in the Visitors Room where a screen separates the prisoner(s) from the visitors(s). All communications between the Prisoner(s) and the visitor(s) are closely monitored by a Prisons Officer who thereafter have to write a précis of what transpired at the back of the Visitors Form (Prisons Form 2) in accordance with Prisons Standing Orders, paragraph 398.
This provision was not being observed. Entertaining prisoners and their visitors in offices has been the order of the day and appears more of the “rule” rather than the “exception”. The benefactors of this largesse from almost all the Prison Officers have been the category “A” Prisoners who are also termed “High Profile” prisoners and included all the convicts of the Quality Grain issue (ie the 2 Ex-Ministers – Kwame Peprah, Alhaji Ibrahim Adam and Dr. Yankey and then Victor Serlomey, Ex-Deputy Minister and Mr. Benjilo.
SUPT./MR. VICTOR AGBELENGOR HAS BEEN THE WORSE OFFENDER IN THIS REGARD. HIS OFFICE IS VIRTUALLY OPENED “ALL DAY” FOR THE SO CALLED HIGH PROFILE PRISONERS TO RELAX, RECEIVE ALL SORTS OF VISITORS, READ NEWSPAPERS, ETC., ETC. THEY DO ALL THIS ALONE WITHOUT ANY MONITORING BY HIM OR OTHER OFFICERS. THIS IS HIGHLY AGAINST THE PRISONS REGULATIONS.
Invitations or calling of Prisoners to meet visitors or come to the offices are supposed to be documented and approved. BUT SUCH ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE HIGH PROFILE PRISONERS AT SUPT./MR. AGBELENGOR’S OFFICE WERE NOT DOCUMENTED AND FORMALLY APPROVED BUT WENT ON VIDE VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS. It came to the notice of the Special Investigations Team that, Charles Quansah after his conviction never had any visitor. However, he went out from the condemned cells on six occasions as below:
*(I) To meet some student lawyers on 7th September, 2002 together with 13 other convicts. *(II) To meet a lady lawyer from Legon, between April and May, 2003. *(III) 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th all taking place following the June 4th speech on the serial murders by Ex-President Rawlings. 3rd (by the stairs outside near Supt./Mr. Agbelengor’s office) and 6th (in Supt./Madam Matilda’s office) at his instance and 4th and 5th at the instance of Supt./Mr. Agbelengor in his office.
Even though it came to light that Charles Quansah met with some Visitors/Lawyers with the Ex-Ministers in attendance in Supt/Mr. Agbelengor’s office on two separate occasions, IT HAS NOT BEEN CLEAR AS TO THE IDENTITY OF THE VISITORS/LAWYERS THAT WERE PRESENT AND MORE SO THE ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS/DISCUSSIONS THAT TOOK PLACE ON THOSE OCCASIONS. BOTH CHARLES QUANSAH AND SUPT./MR. AGBELENGOR HAVE VEHEMENTLY DENIED THE ALLEGATION REGARDING THE COACHING OF QUANSAH TO IMPLICATE SOME NPP MINISTERS IN THE SERIAL MURDERS.
However, the publication on this issue in the Daily GUIDE on 25/07/03) and the dispatch cum urgency with which the CID embarked on its investigation, THE PERCEIVED SINISTER MOVEMENT HAVE VIRTUALLY COME TO A HALT.
A visit to the Visiting Room told it all. The précis of Victor Serlomey and Benjilo indicated that, the hitherto relaxed atmosphere and freedom of movement in the Prisons are no more, following the escape of John Malm and the publication of the story in the Daily GUIDE.
AS MUCH AS THE ABOVE PAINTS THE PICTURE ON THE GROUND AS AT NOW, IT IS IMPORTANT TO SOUND A NOTE OF WARNING THAT, THE STAKEHOLDERS (IE THE GOVERNMENT, POLICE, BNI AND THE PRISON AUTHORITIES) SHOULD NOT REST ON THEIR OARS AND BE COMPLACENT. MUCH NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ACTUALLY NIB THESE OMINOUS ACTIVITIES INTO THE MUD.
IN PURSUANCE OF THAT, THE POLICE WILL LEAVE THE INVESTIGATION “OPEN” IN THE VIEW TO GATHERING MORE EVIDENCE IN ORDER TO BRING THE AFFECTED CULPRITS TO BOOK.
Even though there have been a lot of malpractices with regard to enforcing the provisions of the Prisons Standing Orders on the part of the Supt/Mr. Victor Agbelengor, it was realized that, he is not the only defaulter as those laxities have become the order of the day and being practised by almost all the Prison Officers until now.
Prisons Standing Orders, paragraph 537 (B) provides that;
“Two Prison Officers shall be present at interviews with visitors and they shall report anything of importance which occurs during the visit or passes between a Condemned Prisoner and his visitors. Such reports shall be submitted immediately to the Superintendent or Officer-in-Charge who shall forward it to the Director of Prisons, if he considers it has any bearing on the case or should be brought to notice in the interests of Justice”.
Supt./Mr. Agbelengor blatantly flouted this regulation.
In view of above, Supt./Mr. Agbelengor cannot escape blame. It is therefore recommended that, disciplinary action should be taken against him for “An act prejudicial to the efficient conduct of the Prison Service” contrary to Section 16 (K) of NRCD 46, 1972.
The Prison authorities are also to put up stringent measures to judiciously enforce the Standing Orders accordingly in both spirit and form so as to prevent any such lapses in future.
The activities in the Prison will be closely monitored.
DIRECTOR/CID, (DCOP/MR. D. ASANTE-APEATU)