Who Killed Roko Frimong?

By Aaron Okyere

The mystery surrounding who killed Mr. Roko-Frimpong, the late Deputy Managing
Director (Operations) of the Ghana Commercial Bank in 2007 under the Kufuor
government remains unsolved as an Accra High Court readies itself to begin sitting
on the case next month.

Mr. Frimpong was shot dead by unknown assailants in 2007 in what was described as
“contract killing” by the then Candidate Atta-Mills following a series of other
killings which had rocked the state. No reason could be deduced for the cold-blooded
murder which sent a chill down the spines of many Ghanaians.
Accusing fingers were pointed at the NPP government headed by J.A. Kufuor because
Mr. Frimpong was known to have objected to the manner in which the redenomination of
the cedi was going to be done. The assassination of the Head of Security of the Bank
of Ghana who was also gunned down in his house in similar fashion was also connected
to same position he also took on the redenomination exercise.
In September 2007, the police arrested four men at Sakumono in Tema over the murder
of Roko Frimpong. The four who later appeared before the Osu District Magistrate
court were Francis Ankobea aka Nana Sei, William Agbavor, Foster Kwame Boakye and
Samuel MacCarthy .The police said they were being held for conspiracy to commit
murder and murder. According to the Police, the four had admitted their involvement
in the crime.
However, soon after the Mills Administration came into being, a number of soldiers
were arrested for allegedly committing the same crime. They include Sgt. Samuel
McCarthy, alias Tugah Corporal Emmanuel Antwi, Corporal Richard Somuah, Sgt. Michael
Arthur and Corporal Lamptey Hazel. This made the whole affair murky as it meant that
two groups of people were being held for the same murder.
The Attorney-General, however, withdrew the charges against the soldiers leading to
their acquittal and discharge by an Accra Human Rights High Court. This left the
young men who had been rounded up earlier as the only suspects in the case.
The Attorney-General last month successfully fought against an attempt by the
suspects to have bail granted them. They were later committed by a District
Magistrate to stand trial at the High Court next month after the legal vacation.
“We are ready for the trial” was all that the Daily Post could solicit from a
tight-lipped official of the A-G’s Department when contacted about the case.
While hearing into the Ya-Na and Mobila murder cases have began, nothing was heard
about the Roko-Frimpong murder for a while compelling some Ghanaians to frequently
phone this paper wanting to know the status of the case.
Stay tuned