A tribute by Junaid Limann, son of the late JB Limann, has shed light on a daring but ultimately unsuccessful plan to free his uncle, former Ghanaian President Dr Hilla Limann, from imprisonment, following the 1981 coup led by Jerry John Rawlings.

According to Junaid’s account, his father, a lawyer and younger brother of the ousted president, in a show of profound familial bond, risked his life in a bold attempt to secure his brother’s release, amidst Ghana’s turbulent political landscape.

Dr Hilla Limann, who served as President of Ghana from 1979 to 1981, was overthrown on December 31, 1981, in a coup that plunged Ghana back into military rule by Rawlings who had previously handed him power following the 1979 elections.

Dr Limann was imprisoned on charges of causing financial loss to the state and according to Junaid Limann’s tribute, his father, who was then a law student in the UK, was devastated by the news of his brother’s detention.

“My father was left stunned, angry, and stranded in the UK. He soon learned that his brother had been imprisoned,” Junaid wrote.

Determined to act, JB Limann abandoned his legal studies and traveled to Nigeria, where he collaborated with Dr Limann’s allies to devise a rescue plan.

“Disguised and using a counterfeit passport, my father bravely crossed the border into Ghana,” Junaid recounted.

In Ghana, JB managed to meet with a high-ranking general to advance the plot. However, the mission was thwarted, and Dr Limann remained in custody.

The tribute revealed that Dr Limann was eventually released through diplomatic intervention by Nigerian President, Shehu Shagari.

Shagari’s pressure, including halting oil sales to Ghana and deporting illegal Ghanaian immigrants from Nigeria, compelled Rawlings to release Dr Limann, who was then placed under house arrest.

JB Limann, granted asylum in Nigeria, went on to pass the Nigerian Bar exams and establish a successful law practice there.

JB Limann later returned to Ghana in 1998 after Dr Limann’s death, assuming the chieftaincy as the Paramount Chief of Gwollu and serving as a Council of State member.

He passed away on May 2, 2024, leaving a legacy of courage and sacrifice.

As Junaid Limann wrote, “My father’s life was a testament to duty, sacrifice, and resilience.”

GA/AE

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