Ghanaians urged to report coup plots

Accra, Oct 14, GNA- Professor Henrietta Joy Mensa-Bonsu, a Member of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), on Tuesday reminded Ghanaians to report immediately any knowledge of coup plots, saying failure to report such plots is against the law.

She gave the reminder when a witness at the Commission, Ex- Cpl Kwaku Nyamebekyere, who said he was detained for more than eight years on suspicion of complicity in a coup plot, admitted knowledge of schemes to oust the then government of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) in 1983.

The former Recce Regiment soldier said however, that it was unclear to him what those meetings were for and he resisted allowing himself into the schemes in which he was invited to participate. He told the Commission that a group of armed soldiers, woke him up from his sleep on March 1, 1983, arrested him, along with 11 others, and later detained them at the Teshie Brigade Guardroom.

There was no formal charge covering their arrest, neither was their statement taken, he said.

The witness added that after some days in the guardroom, they met with Colonel Klutse, then Officer Commanding the Brigade, who after showing them some pictures of some dead Military officers, including that of Brg. Odartey Wellington, remarked that he (Klutse) would not like to be executed the like the late officers.

They were then taken back to the Guardroom, detained for one month, and later released; but he was arrested again three months later, and kept in solitary confinement at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for three days.

After two weeks at the Usher Fort Prison, he, together with five others, Sgt. Fofie, Cpl. Debrah, Pt. Amponsah Dadzie and W O Abbeh, and one other person, appeared before a public tribunal, chaired by one Mr Agyekum, on an allegation of plotting a coup to oust the then regime.

Ex-Cpl Nyamebekyere said Abbeh was sentenced to death, Fofie 18 years, and he was acquitted.

He said he was however, arrested again in August, by a team of policemen led by Mr David Walenkaki, a senior police officer, when he (Ex Corporal Nyamebekyere) obliged to an instruction from his Unit RSM to go to the police Headquarters to sign some documents.

He said he was arrested together with one Sgt. Osei, Pt. Ohemeng, and Pt. Amponsah Dadzie and detained for the eight years at the Nsawam Prisons.

The ex-corporal said his family got to know of his arrest and detention, through his own private effort, and after initially denying them visitors, clearance was sought from the Castle, the seat of government, before he had visitors.

The witness said in the Nsawam Prisons, they were subjected to maltreatment for the first six months. Aside leaving very strong lights, which they were made to gaze at, they were stripped down to their pants, deep in the night, and searched for any possible weapons that might have been smuggled into the cells.

Ex-Cpl. Nyamebekyre said he was discharged from the Service after he was released, and was only paid his benefits and put on pension after a number of petitions to the Military authorities.

The witness said he had developed sight problems for the strong light he was exposed to, and lost his father who became sick for his fruitless efforts to get him released.

He prayed the Commission to be placed on the rank of Warrant Officer, and recommendation for appropriate redress for his unlawful detention for alleged involvement in a coup plot, when the same Military authorities had described him as a nationalist, who resisted being influenced into a coup plot.

Commissioner Most Rev Charles Palmer Buckle, in a remark, pointed out to the witness to have faith God, reflecting on the meaning of his name, Nyamebekyere, which means, "God will provide". "God is really providing, as your name shows," Rev Palmer-Buckle said.