Rawlings At NRC: No Drama!

Accra, Feb. 12 GNA - The appearance of Former President Jerry John Rawlings before the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) in response to two subpoenas from the Commission came to an anticlimactic end after 30 minutes hearing on Thursday.

The Chairman of the Commission, Mr Justice Kweku Etru Amua-Sekyi discharged him after the Former President had said he did not have a video and audio recordings of two events.

Justice Amua-Sekyi explained that the Commission subpoenaed him to produce the two tapes and since he said he did not have them there was no need to keep him, adding that he would, however, be called back when needed.

Former President Rawlings was to produce a video recording of the torture and killing of some soldiers, who allegedly attempted to overthrow his government, Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), in 1983.

He was also to produce an audio recording of the confession of Amartey Kwei, a member of the PNDC, who was executed for his complicity in the murder of three High Court Judges and a Military Officer. The Former President could not believe his ears when the Chairman told him that he had been discharged. He opened his arms in disbelief. Sat down for sometime. Got up. Stood for sometime. Made the necessary courtesies, before leaving.

The NRC subpoenaed Former President Rawlings on Tuesday, three days after he returned from a trip abroad to appear before it. He accepted to appear at the hearing in response to two subpoenas served on him on Tuesday at 1020 hours by the Commission, a statement signed by the former President's Special Aide, Victor Smith said. The four persons were abducted from their homes and brutally killed by some non-commissioned soldiers on June 30 1982 when Former President Rawlings was the military ruler.

By 0850 hours when the GNA visited the residence of the Former President the Police were ready to escort him to the Old Parliament House where the Commission sits.

When Former President Rawlings eventually came out of his house a number of people wearing the colours of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had gathered apparently to show their loyalty to him. The Police escort vehicles took him safely to the venue, which had been besieged by a large crowd as early as 0600 hours. On arrival at the old Parliament House a section of the crowd started cheering.

The chamber of the Old Parliament House was filled to capacity. When proceedings began some people in the public galleries started cheering and the Chairman of the Commissioned warned that he would have the galleries cleared leaving only the media if they continued to make noise.

From that point the proceeding went on smoothly with Former President Rawlings giving his answers in a cool and relaxed manner.

Rawlings could not produce tape recordings

Accra, Feb 12, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings was on Thursday unable to produce two tape recordings on incidents during his tenure as Head of State when he appeared before the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) on subpoenas.

He, however, gave an account of excerpts of the footage of the videotape that was demanded in connection with the execution of Lance Corporal Andrews Bamfo Sarkodie-Addo during the period of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).

He was also not able to produce an audiotape that was supposed to be the last confessions of Joachim Amartey Kwei, a Member of PNDC, who was executed for his complicity in the abduction and murder of three High Court Judges and a Retired Army Officer on June 30 1982. Former President Rawlings was invited to the Commission on the strength of evidence given by Mr Riad Hozaifeh, his Friend, and Baafour Assasie-Gyimah, former National Security Operative.

Mr Hozaifeh had said in his evidence that the Former President had the videotape on the execution of L/C Sarkodie-Addo while Baafour Assasie-Gyimah claimed he had an audiotape of the last confession of Amartey Kwei.

Mr Amartey Kwei was tried and executed in 1983 for his role in the abduction and murder of three High Court Judges and a retired army major in 1982.

The former President said he watched excerpts of the film on L/C Sarkodie-Addo's execution, but did not know where the tape was now. Former President Rawlings said he was one of the people, who authorised the filming, which he said was part of the interrogation process of soldiers, who tried to overthrow the PNDC.

He said he gave the videotape to the late WO Officer Tetteh, his Aide-de-Camp, to keep adding that it could also be with the security agencies and or the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

He, however, expressed fears that the said tape might have been destroyed in a fire outbreak at the Broadcasting House.

Dr Benjamin Kumbour led a team of Lawyers that included Dr Josiah Aryeh, Secretary-General of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Tony Lithur and Mr Ken Dzirasah, Second Deputy Speaker in Parliament to represent the Former President.

Mrs Juliana Ewuraesi Amonoo-Neizer, Counsel for the Commission, led the Witness in his evidence.

The Former President, who said he was at present unemployed, admitted that he took the confession from Amartey Kwei thus confirming the evidence Baafour Assasie Gyimah gave in reaction to accusations made by Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Son of one of the murdered Judges, when he appeared before the Commission.

The Witness said the audio recording of the last confession of Amartey Kwei was with him (Flt Lt Rawlings) "for some time to the point in time when that thing got missing I can't tell."

He said he could not find the tape when Captain Kojo Tsikata, Former National Security Adviser, needed it to use as evidence when he took a London newspaper to court over that murder story.

The former President, who swore on the Crucifix, had earlier indicated his wish to swear on all the three holy objects - Koran, Bible and Crucifix.

He said he was pained by the murder and asked why Amartey Kwei linked Capt Tsikata to them.

"I was glad when he declared the innocence of Capt Tsikata," he said, adding that he told Amartey Kwei that it was opportunity to clear his name, that of his wife and children, and also to cleanse his soul and spirit before meeting his maker.

The Witness said he invited a number of Journalists, including the then Editor of the "Daily Graphic" newspaper, Mr Kojo Yankah and played the tape to them.

He said he did not know if he made copies of the tape, but the "Daily Graphic" published the confession, which he had played to the Journalists.

Neither the Commission nor Dr Kumbour asked the Former President any question on his evidence.

Apparently surprised that he was not asked any question on his evidence, he exclaimed: "Oh Sir!"

Mr Justice Kweku Etru Amua-Sekyi, Chairman of the NRC, said the Commission would call the former President when the need arose and the former President agreed.