I was promised job as compensation for illegal detention

Accra, March 9, GNA- Dr Kwadjo Amoah, Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Biakoye, on Wednesday told the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) that Capt (rtd) Kojo Tsikata, former National Security Adviser, promised him job in the erstwhile government of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), as a compensation for his 10-month detention in 1982.

The Witness, who had registered his dislike for military regimes, said he got out of the country a day after the promise, exiled to Lome, Togo, and did not make himself available to an invitation aired on national radio to report to an office, apparently to be offered the promised job. Dr Amoah, said he is a Freelance Translator, based in Lome, said he later had information from Capt Tsikata, whom he said was an acquaintance, "sent his men" and ejected his relatives from rental unit he acquired from the State Housing Company at Dansoman Exhibition, Accra.

Witness said after reporting himself to the Labone Police after the eruption of the December 31, 1981 coup, he was detained and later transferred to the Nsawam Prison, with other political detainees, including one Alhaji Farl.

He said they were picked from the same night the three judges and the retired army officer were abducted and killed, and brought to the Burma Camp, but when no records were located on their detention, they were sent to the Ussher Fort Prison, and the then National Investigations Committee, and later back to the Nsawam Prisons.

Dr Amoah who said he was the former General Secretary of the erstwhile People's National Party (PNP) said he had earlier been arrested and detained at the same Nsawam Prisons during the Acheapmong regime for launching a publication "Hour of Truth" in 1975.

He said to him, the then military government had a poor development record, and his call in the publication on the then government to hand over power to a civilian government, was taken in bad faith.

He said he had earlier been arrested for criticising Acheampong government, and when he rejected an offer from the head of state to be part of the government, he was arrested and detained in the cells of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

He said he was presumed mad, psychiatrists and doctors from the Police Hospital were invited to carry out tests on him, but they declared him fit.

Dr Amoah said in both cases of his detention, he lost a number of his books, which he brought from his long stay in America and Canada. 9 March 04