I didn't seek spiritual help - Adjei Boadi

Warrant Officer Class One, Joseph Kwabena Adjei Boadi, former Member of the erstwhile Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), on Tuesday denied ever seeking spiritual help from anywhere to stage a coup to overthrow the Council, after he resigned from that military government.

He told a National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) public hearing in Accra that an earlier testimony in which Olormi Stephen Sarfo of the Nyamesompa Healing Church said he had consulted the leadership of that church for spiritual assistance to oust the PNDC was false.

"It is never true; throughout my military life, I never knew any juju man, prophet or Malam. I believe in my own capabilities. All those stories are lies to destroy my reputation," Adjei Boadi said.

In his evidence that lasted for more than two hours, Adjei Boadi said he began associating with the Church at Okyereko in 1972 and won many soldiers and civilians to it. This was after coming into contact with the Prophet Kwabena Ekwam, the founder and the then leader, through a friend who had testified to the healing prowess of the Prophet.

Adjei Boadi said when he was convinced that the Prophet was doing a good work he saw it fit to offer him protection and assistance. He also became an active member of the Church.

Adjei Boadi said the Prophet on a number of occasions claimed he had received Divine revelations to move the church to Pokuase in 1975. Not long after that the Prophet had a problem with the youth of the Pokuase community and moved the church to a neutral ground, Ekwamkrom, near Buduburam.

Adjei Boadi said Prophet Ekwam began having problems with the traditional authorities of his new camp and he used military equipment then at his disposal to frighten those who were worrying the Prophet and the church members.

He said he advised the Prophet to secure the necessary documents on the land after the traditional authorities had taken the matter to court but Ekwam rejected the advice saying the land belonged to his ancestors.

Adjei Boadi said Prophet Ekwam was once arrested by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council and sent to the Osu Castle, but he used his influence as a member of the AFRC to release him. The then Chairman Jerry John Rawlings arranged to have the Prophet driven back to his village and followed it with an apology.

He said Prophet Ekwam was arrested again in 1982 and together with Olormi were severely beaten. He again used his association with Chairman Rawlings to have Prophet Ekwam released.

Adjei Boadi said he began having doubts about Prophet Ekwam and the church when in 1988, Ekwam declared himself God and one woman in the church, Baaba, Jesus Christ.

He said his doubts heightened and he decided not to be part of the church again when one day the woman invited him and told him that he had to marry her because God had spiritually ordained their marriage. Adjei Boadi said the church was involved in a number of rituals involving long separation from one's spouse or children, abstinence from certain kind foods and taking one's bath on a refuse dump.

He also alleged that Prophet Ekwam performed two abortions for his own daughter whom he impregnated, and after failing to terminate a third pregnancy for the daughter, Prophet Ekwam poisoned her, buried her within one hour in a makeshift coffin, and pierced a machete to the side of her head.

Adjei Boadi alleged that the Prophet Ekwam sexually abused the women at the prayer camp and impregnated one of the wives of the men in community and pushed the woman back to the husband. The man, one Otoo later discovered that he was not responsible for the pregnancy.

After beating his wife up, Adjei Boadi said he accompanied Otoo to lodge a complainant with the Awutu Beraku Police, who dismissed it as a civil case.

He said he was later invited to the Osu Castle and the then PNDC Chairman Flt Lt Jerry Rawlings asked him about the activities of Prophet Ekwam. Adjei Boadi said he told Flt. Lt. Rawlings that Prophet Ekwam must be "arrested for blaspheming and seriously interrogated."

He said Prophet Ekwam later packed and went to hide in the bush. Adjei Boadi said on 4 April 1989, Prophet Ekwam and his men attacked him and nearly killed him in the process. They were later invited to the Regional Office of the Bureau of National Investigations for interrogation.

He said during the attack, one taxi driver hit him with a stick on his head and his assailants fired pistols at him. They threw stones at him, which hit his ribs, he said, and added that one Police officer by the name Nkrumah looked on with glee and urged the attackers on to kill him. Adjei Boadi said during the struggle he never fired even a single shot.

He said surgery was later performed on him at the 37 Hospital. Adjei Boadi said after a number of contacts with Gondar Barracks and Police Headquarters, he went to then Chairman Rawlings, who after seeing his predicament ordered the church camp and structures to be pulled down. However, he said, he reasoned with Flt. Lt. Rawlings, Peter Nanfuri, the BNI boss and Naval Capt. Assasie-Gyimah, to preserve the place.

The former PNDC member said there were a number of anonymous letters to the BNI alleging sexual abuse by the church hierarchy and also burning of the Bible. On his relationship with former President Rawlings, Adjei Boadi said it was a prophecy come true.

He said it was prophesied in 1969 that he would become a great friend to a half-cast and so when he became a friend to Flt. Lt Rawlings he saw it as the fulfilment of that prophecy. He said their friendship continued until 1979 when Rawlings came to power.

Adjei Boadi, who said he was once an Anglican Sunday Sunday-School Teacher, said the killing of the three High Court Judges and the retired army Major excited his anger and spoiled his relationship with the AFRC and the Rawlings family.

However, Flt. Lt. Rawlings and his wife later came to apologise to him that they had realised their mistakes and pleaded with him to come back into their fold. Adjei Boadi said he did not believe in violence but dialogue in the resolution of differences.

He said he resigned from the PNDC for two reasons: A spiritual message, which he would not disclose, and a realisation that the revolutionary principles were not being followed.

Adjei Boadi said he would "look stupid, a stooge and a sycophant" if he continued to be part of the PNDC. During cross-examination by Adjei Boadi's counsel, Agyare Koi Larbi, he said he collected his bulk pension when he resigned, without any special emolument and had no house. He had a 504 Peugeot caravan, which he used as his personal car, from Chairman Rawlings.