I was wrongfully detained - Ex GES Auditor

Accra, Oct. 20, GNA - Mr Herbert Morrison Adjei, a former Auditor of the Ghana Education Service on Monday told the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), that he was arrested in 1986 and detained for more than three years in various prisons, although an embezzlement charge against him could not be proven.

The former Ashanti Regional Accountant of the GES said he was detained in the Kumasi Central and Usher Fort Prisons, and also spent some time in the cells of the Ashanti Regional office and the Headquarters of the Bureau of National Investigations in Accra. According to Mr Adjei, now a farmer at Dormaa Ahenkro, a Task Force, chaired by one Mr Kwesi Yankah, could not state the amount of money he allegedly embezzled, when he was brought before a tribunal, then chaired by Mr George Agyekum, and later one Mr Boakye Danquah and Mr Anin at different times.
Mr Adjei said he was also made to pay an amount of 250,000 cedis into Account No. 48, a special Account at the Ghana Commercial Bank, on condition that if no adverse findings were made against him, the money would be refunded to him.
According to the witness, the money was never refunded to him although the prosecution failed to establish its charge. He described the charge of the Task Force as "spurious," stating that it did not follow proper accounting procedures like drawing limits, annual salary increases and other expenditure in public second cycle schools.
Mr Adjei said the Task Force seized his 160J Datsun car, and never returned it to him after the investigations were over. Now a pensioner, he prayed the Commission for compensation for this unlawful detention and also asked that his vehicle be returned while his outstanding salaries due him during his detention period, should be paid.
The Commission found it rather puzzling why Mr Samuel Benjamin Osei Botchwey, another Witnesses, who went to Nigeria on holidays, did not return after the end of his leave in March 1991, to continue his work as a cashier with the Controller and Accountant General.
Mr Botchwey told the hearing that while in Nigeria he sent his wife back to Ghana to bring him some money for their upkeep but the Police arrested her on arrival. He was also arrested through the Interpol and deported back home to face trial on alleged complicity in the loss of a 100-million cedis at the Akoti Rural Bank.
He said the trial did not end till 1992 when the tribunal system was abolished, and that although his other colleagues were granted bail, he was remanded for six years.
He said he was not paid his salaries for the period of his arrest and remand, although his colleagues were paid.
Mr Botchwey said he was interdicted and later dismissed and that his efforts to be reinstated did not materialise.
He said he would not like to work at the Controller and Accountant General's Department again, but prayed the Commission to recommend the return of his properties, which were seized by the Police. They comprised three cars, two coloured television sets, a gas cooker and an outboard motor, all valued at 4.41 million cedis at the time, according to him.
He also asked for "something small" to continue living. Mr Botchwey also prayed the Commission for compensation to soothe his extended detention after the abolition of the tribunal system.