Dawn Raid On Rawlings' Men

In the wee hours of the morning of Saturday November 15, 2003, precisely around 5.00 a. m, the ‘Goon Squads’ of President Kufuor’s NPP Government struck yet again, this time at the personal bodyguards of ex-President Jerry John Rawlings and retired personnel of the former 64 Regiment, mainly living in and around Nungua, and subjected them, their families, and the general community of Nungua to sustained harassment and intimidation.

Comprising personnel from the military, police and the BNI, the ‘Goon Squads’ raided the homes of Sergeant Avotey, Sergeant Owuoba Agbatey, Staff Sergeant Sammy Bortey, W. O. Albert Gbafa, and Sergeant Odai.

The ‘Goon Squad’ did not meet Staff Sergeant Sammy Bortey, the driver of former President Rawlings, but they thoroughly searched his house but found nothing incriminating. They then arrested his sister and took her to the BNI Headquarters

Similarly, W. O Gbafa was also absent from his house, but in the presence of his wife, Aggie, the house was thoroughly searched and in the process, serious damage was caused to property in the house.

The whole operation, we are informed lasted between 5.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.

The arrested persons were all arrested in the evening after extensive interrogation, except Sergeant Owuoba Agbatey who we are informed was detained overnight.

When Ghana Palaver contacted some of the soldiers who were arrested, they claimed they were interrogated about an alleged coup d’etat plot that they were suspected to be involved in, and that in furtherance of the plot, they had been holding secret meetings at the Coco Beach.

The soldiers said they described the accusation as ‘preposterous’ and said they knew it was part of a plot to put fear into them.

"They lie bad", one of them told Ghana Palaver undercover reporters.

In a reaction to the arrests, the NDC issued a statement of protest signed by its General Secretary in which it expressed great regret and concern at the incident.

The statement said the ex-servicemen are retired Ghanaians who served their nation dutifully by helping to establish and protect the country’s infant democracy, just like other law abiding citizens.

It further said that now that the soldiers had retired into civilian life, they deserved peaceful existence in their own country, uninterrupted by arbitrary arrests.

The statement continued: "This inhuman treatment and invasion of their privacy and homes together with the taking of their family members as hostages in place of them in the name of "routine security operations" is a gross violation of their human rights as guaranteed by the law".

It said if this reckless exercise continued, it would be a recipe for chaos and confusion and widespread invasion of the private lives of citizens.

The NDC also called on the CHRAJ and the Chief Justice to take note of the gross human rights violations and advise the NPP Government or its security operatives to use legal channels to deal with any manner of persons whose lives or actions appeared to be in breach of any aspects of our constitution.

"Ghana needs lasting peace in a turbulent sub-region and no reckless action by the government should be condoned to the detriment of national security and cohesion", the statement concluded.