Adjei-Boadi denies killing six men

Warrant Officer Class One(rtd) Joseph Kwabena Adjei-Boadi, former member of the defunct Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), on Wednesday denied killing six persons detained in the guardroom of the Border Guard Headquarters in June 1983 after an abortive coup attempt

He, however, admitted liability for their killing saying he ordered his men to execute them. "It was a justifiable action," he added. W. O. Adjei-Boadi was giving evidence at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) on Wednesday in reaction to earlier evidence by the Reverend Apostle Brigadier (rtd) Albert Tehn-Addy, former Border Guards Commander.

Brigadier Tehn-Addy had told the Commission that he invited W. O. Adjei-Boadi to his office and scolded him when the duty guard told him he had killed the six men. In his evidence and cross-examination, which lasted more than two-and-a-half hours, W. O. Adjei Boadi expressed regret for having had the men killed in what he said was in the defence of the country.

He said he wished the actions of dissidents had been successful for Ghanaians to appreciate the essence of his action. "As a man of absolute peace, the action I took was collective ...," he said.

He added that there was the need for "resolute measures" to be taken to restore law and order after the 19 June 1983 insurrection. W. O. Adjei-Baodi said he wished people who had wanted to take the realms of power in the coups would have been allowed for two or three months for Ghanaians to see their real tendencies, adding that Ghana would have slipped into crisis long before the Liberian crisis.

He said the execution of the six men was part of "Operation Search and Destroy" declared by the hierarchy of the PNDC. He said the names of 30 people were put on a wanted list and published in the Daily Graphic newspaper.

He said he was, however, not sure if Kofi Agyima and Gyimah whose names were on the list were among the people who were killed in that operation. He said his men had carried the order to shoot the six, left their bodies and he informed PNDC Chairman and Head of State Flt. Lt. (rtd) Jerry Rawlings about the execution.

W. O. Boadi spoke of his exploits in quelling insurrections to overthrow the PNDC government. He said he once took centre stage and brought a situation under control when soldiers grew riotous at Burma Camp during a meeting between them and Lt. Gen. Arnold Quainoo for which the General made special mention of him for appreciation in the media.

He cited the Weekly Insight newspaper as leading a media conspiracy to tarnish his image and alleged that its editor, Kwesi Pratt Junior, had supported the cause of the PNDC. He said Pratt was at one time behind the arrest of Kweku Baako Jnr, editor of the Crusading Guide newspaper, who would have been killed, but for his intervention.

W. O. Adjei-Boadi said he had constantly been receiving divine Messages, adding that one such message said the leaders should stop depending on juju and rituals and start living in humble fellowship with God's moral authority.

W.O. Adjei-Boadi said former dissidents were back in the country and had infiltrated the security system. He said that he saw it very strange that they were holding very good positions in the country.

"They are at the airport, the President's House, the Castle and even here," W.O. Adjei- Boadi said, adding some were holding ministerial positions. "I have my regrets to say it." All the eight commissioners asked W. O. Adjei-Boadi some questions on his evidence which dealt with the 4 June 1979 and 31 December 1981 coups, discipline in the army, Operation Search and Destroy and his general feeling on the country's return to constitutional rule, among others.

The Most Rev Charles Palmer Buckle said W.O. Adjei-Boadi would be a key figure in the reconciliation process, to right the records of the history of the country. Commissioners Maulvi Wahab Adam and Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu said W. O. Adjei Boadi should identify the six detainees whose executions he ordered for they might not have been part of the people declared wanted.

W. O. Adjei Boadi under cross-examination by his counsel, Agyare Koi Larbi, insisted that under the circumstance at the time it would not have been prudent to seek identities. General Emmanuel Alexander Erskine, another Commissioner, said W. O. Adjei Boadi had to reconcile himself with the past. Two petitioners who were called to tell their stories were absent. They were Ruth Delali Agbana and Valessie Yawa. Hearings continue.