I was victim of coups because of my wealth- Sangari

Accra, Sept. 4, GNA- An industrialist on Thursday told the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) that he became a victim of military brutalities after the military takeovers of 1979 and 1981 because he was a successful businessman.

In his 70-minute testimony, Mr Mustapha Kobina Sangari, a Lebanese-born Ghanaian said, "success became a hazard" after the military coups.

Owner of Kadmus Guest House in Accra, Mr Sangari suspected that his arrest, detention, manhandling, and the loss of his business entities were because Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, Chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council in 1979, had said that the economic woes of the country emanated from people of "Lebanese and Arab stock".

"I think I was a very rich man in their estimation", he said, adding that he had a farm, a factory and a marketing company, and employed more than 500 people.

Mr Sangari said a number of soldiers surrounded his East Cantonment house the night after June 4 Uprising, held him hostage and fired into his shoulder when he was about to get out of his Mercedes Benz car which they seized.

The soldiers also took away hi-fi electronic systems, an elephant tusk and household items.

Mr Sangari said he bled profusely, but could not go to the clinic because a curfew was then in force.

A lady friend and one Dr Ababio, a neighbour, gave him first aid. He then took refuge in the Bulgaria Ambassador's Residence. After a few days he went to London where he underwent surgery for the injury. He returned to Ghana after four months.

Mr Sangari said the soldiers were in his house again on January 26, 1982. After searching his house they took him to his office at Labone, a supermarket at Osu and another business place at Agbogbloshie in Accra and took away his money.

He said he was later taken to East Cantonment and after picking his lady friend both of them were taken to Burma Camp at about 12 mid-night. At Burma Camp, he said, a man, whom he thought was Mr Kwamena Ahwoi, a Minister in the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), sat behind a desk and counted the money the soldiers brought.

Mr Sangari said Mr Riyadh Hozaifeh, whom he had known since 1973, stood by while the man counted the money. He said he received five slaps according to the rhythmic sounds Mr Hozaifeh made with a pen he was holding.

A soldier also gave his lady friend shocks, and inserted a walkie-talkie into her throat, demanding to know why she was wearing a pair of trousers.

Mr Sangari said the man he thought was Mr Ahwoi did not finish counting the money before mentioning 138,000 as the total amount. He was taken away and detained without any charge for three months in the Recce Guardroom.

He said after his release, he was asked to report to the then National Investigations Committee (NIC), every two weeks. However, his encounters with the NIC lasted only two minutes each time and NIC officials then told him "bye-bye".

His Ghanaian passport, which was seized, was only returned to him in 1995.

Mr Sangari said he was also able to get back his Mercedes Benz car, but his hi-fi items, money and personal effects have still not been returned to him.

On his current relationship with Mr Hozaifeh, Mr Sangari said he does not have any problem with him. He said he never saw him again until 1995 when he (Mr Hozaifeh) walked into his house, shook hands with him.

During cross-examination, Commissioner Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, said Mr Hozaifeh has replied to the petition of Mr Sangari. She said Mr Hozaifeh said he recalled meeting him, but was shocked at allegations against him. Besides, he said, they were good friends. Mr Sangari replied that he did not state in his petition that they were enemies. He added that it was a lie that Mr Hozaifeh said he only helped the soldiers to count some money and never saw the soldiers beating him.

According to Mr Sanagari an unpleasant encounter he said he had with Mr Hozaifeh might be a result of being rude to him in 1981. He said Mr Hozaifeh came to his shop and demanded a bag of rice, a bag of sugar and a carton of milk for the Head of State. Mr Sangari said he was rude to Mr Hozaifeh when he told him the items were meant for Flt. Lt. Rawlings, and added that even if he would give anything, it would not be more than five kilos each of rice and sugar.

Mr Sangari said Mr David Walenkaki, a senior police officer by then, led a group of about one dozen policemen to arrest him in the night of September 20, 1983 and detained at the Legon Police Station without any charge for 45 days.

He said he dismissed five workers for indiscipline and rudeness, but the Workers Defence Committee (WDC) at his factory made a number of allegations about him to Mr Ato Austin, then Secretary for Labour. He said the Tehoda Committee set up to look into the allegations recommended that he should not be allowed to work in Ghana.

He said he is saddled with debts by his former workers' suits. Mr Sangari said apart from the emotional disturbances, his family went without food for days.

The Commissioners expressed their sympathy to Mr Sangari. Commissioner Uborr Dalafu Labal II told Mr Sangari: "I believe the God who built you up will raise you up." 04 Sept. 03