Healing The Nation As We Celebrate Martyrs’ Day

COMMENTARY (EDITORIAL)

ISAAC ATO MENSAH-A communications specialist

Today is June 30, the 26th anniversary of the murder of three judges and a retired military officer.

They were Mrs. Justice Cecilia Korangteng-Addow, Justice Fred Poku Sarkordie, Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong and Major Sam Acquah. These four martyrs were abducted from their homes during curfew hours under the PNDC regime and murdered in cold blood. Providential rainfall on that fateful day prevented their bodies from being burnt beyond recognition.

A golden opportunity arose during the National Reconciliation Commission sittings when former president Rawlings was subpoenaed to give evidence of a video recording on the events of that day. Unfortunately, the former president said he longer knew of the whereabouts of the video recording of the murder. Given the fact that the National Reconciliation Commission had the powers of a high court and was taking evidence on oath and the 2004 elections were approaching, it was understandable that the former president did not want to speak on the issue before the NRC. The NRC also came under heavy criticism for the rather short session they had with Rawlings.

The 26th anniversary of the murder of the judges and the retired military officer provides the most opportune time for the former president and the NDC to make a statement on the murder of the judges and the retired military officer for a number of reasons:

First, the NRC and the law setting it up are no longer in force. Even though the former president is under no legal obligation to speak, the moral obligation is still there. A remorse or acceptance of blame at the NRC hearings would have closed the matter.

Second, the former president told the NRC that he heard the confessions of Amartey Kwei on the murders but has still not made those confessions public. Third, the NDC is the only major party which is expected to condemn the murders but has yet to done so.

Fourth, threats have been issued judiciary recently following the jailing of Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata by another female judge and a section of the media sympathetic to the NDC have sought to portray the trial judge as evil. Coincidentally, one of the three judges who were murdered on June 30, 1982 was a woman.

Fifthly and finally, with the out dooring of the new NDC, every opportunity must be seized to dissociate the party from the gory days of the PNDC.

As the nation mourns with the families of these martyrs today, may we be reminded that the courts are there to protect our rights and liberties. Instant justice and verbal attacks are not ways of developing a civilized society which is the sine qua non for protecting rights and liberties.

Professor Atta-Mills must break the jinx of the NDC leadership not attending martyrs day celebrations as a sign that the new NDC is ready to do serious business with across the political divide.