Re-investigate the murder of judges - Asher

Accra, Aug. 21, GNA - Mr Chris Asher, alias Barima Awuakye Akaten II, who was for some time Chief of Osorase, near Achiase, on Thursday called for a fresh investigation into the murder of the three High Court Judges and the retired Army Major in 1982.

In a very charged and emotional language, Mr Asher alleged the complicity of Flt Lt Jerry Rawlings, then Chairman of the erstwhile Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), Captain Kojo Tsikata, Sergeant Aloga Akatapore, late Mr Amartey Kwei, all PNDC members, and one Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, saying they planned the murder of the four. The four people, murdered in cold blood and their bodies burned were three High Court Judges - Mr Justice Poku Sarkodie; Mr Justice A. K Agyapong and Mrs Justice Cecilia Koranteng Addo and Major Sam Acquah, then Managing Director of the Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation.

Mr Asher's testimony lasted about three hours. Mr Asher, who has the same name as his brother Chris Asher, a Journalist, vehemently condemned the gruesome murder, saying the real culprits are walking free.

Journalist Chris Asher was one time editor of the Palaver newspaper, which was very critical of Flt Lt Rawlings and his government.

Mr Asher said between December 31 1981 and October 20 1982, he became the subject of arrest, detention and torture, from soldiers, prompted by the PNDC, on suspicion of planning a coup with his brother and finally slapped with a-10-year-sentence, and was subsequently incarcerated in Nsawam Prisons on a false charge of murder.

He said he was saved by the intervention of Major Courage Quashigah, then Officer Commanding the Achiase Jungle Warfare, when a squad, led by one Sly Avudzivi was sent to kill him on the orders of Captain Kojo Tsikata. Avidzivi apologised to him when he met him in Nsawam Prisons later.

Mr Asher said a struggle he had with a death squad in his palace, had left permanent bruises and scars on him, and as a traditional chief, it had become impossible for him to let people see his legs at social functions.

Soldiers also paraded him for public ridicule in his village by on a false charge of insurance fraud.

His brother, he said, had openly taunted Flt Rawlings in Accra, a few days before the December 31 1981 revolution, and he fled into exile some few days after.

Mr Asher said he counted 400 empty bullet shells in the house of Editor Asher after the December 31 coup d'etat, adding that the dog in his house was shot dead. All the rooms in the house were rained with pellets. All his brother's assets were confiscated under PNDC Law Three. He said while they were both in detention at Nsawam Prisons, Lance Corporal Amedeka told him that the murder of the judges and the army officer, was pre-arranged before the launch of the December 31 Revolution, for having various differences with Capt Tsikata, Flt Rawlings and Mr Amartey Kwei.

Mr Asher said he was prepared to bring Amedeka down to testify if his security could be guaranteed.

There were 32 other people, who had been listed as undesirable elements for elimination after the revolution, and added that, after the revolution, a number of people, including one Olympio were sent to places along the Motorway and killed.

He said Amedeka told him Chairman Rawlings and Captain Tsikata signed for the arrest of the four personalities, with additional instructions to amputate their legs to incapacitate their ghosts from following them. Amedeka told him the assassination had been pre-planned before the December 31 1981 Revolution, adding that Capt Tsikata went and showed them the houses of the four, who had been marked by Capt Tsikata, Flt Flt Rawlings and Mr Amartey Quaye, because they had differences with the four.

Thirty-three others were marked for elimination at after the December 31 1981 Revolution, he said.

He said Amedeka told him Rawlings popped Champagne when they reported that they had successfully carried out the operation. He supported his claims with a huge pack of papers, he said, was a record of an interview with Amedeka and Dzandu.

Mr Asher said Amedeka said Yeye Boy, a Jujuman in the Volta Region, who had asked Flt Lt Rawlings to submit his shirt to him for spiritual fortification was killed and his house set ablaze on the advice of Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, who he described as his former Law Professor.

Mr Tsikata was alleged to have alerted Flt Rawlings to be wary of Yeye Boy because he made a similar request from Lieutenant General Kwasi Kotoka, the leader of the 1966 coup but he was killed two weeks later. He said Amedeka told him Togbe Adeladza, a Traditional Ruler was earmarked for execution with Yeye Boy but he was rather flogged and spared.

Mr Asher criticised Major Boakye Djan, a member of the defunct Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, who has recently returned from exile in Britain, for helping Flt Lt Rawlings, who was then in jail, for a mutiny in May 1979, saying, he must be held equally responsible for all the troubles Ghanaians suffered under the Rawlings' administrations.