Police Helped Plot Coups - Ex IGP

A former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. B.S.K Kwakye has said coup d'etats could not have succeeded in Ghana without the collaboration of the police service.

Appearing at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) yesterday, Mr. Kwakye accepted a request by Professor Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, one of the commissioners, to prepare a comprehensive report to address the issue.

Mr. Kwakye who looked visibly traumatised and walking with the help of a crutch came to the commission to recommend a proper pension and gratuity for him as well as to direct the Police Council to replace his service and national medals which were stolen from his bungalow while in exile.

Mr. Kwakye, the most senior police officer to testify before the NRC since its inception would also want to get back his Benz saloon car, poultry farm and storey building which were unlawfully confiscated by the state in 1979.

The man who rose through the ranks to the position of IGP said his ordeal began during the June 4 1979 mutiny. He said at about 4 am on June 4 he heard sporadic gunshots. After talking to the CDS, Lt. Gen. Joshua Amidu he took his family to a saf place.

miral Amedome that morning at the Police Headquarters to initiate measures to quell the situation. That evening he heard on radio that a new IGP, Mr. C.O Lamptey had been appointed.

Sensing danger on his life, Mr. Kwakye immediately fled the country to Togo. He was subsequently tried and convicted to twenty-five years in prison with twenty-five others in absentia. Mr. Kwakye challenged his conviction at the Supreme Court but lost.

He said at the court one Sq. Ld. Segbefia testified that he escaped arrest while receiving medical attention.

Mr. Kwakye asked the commission to reopen the case and to clear his "name that he was never arrested".

After appealing for the deconfiscation of his assets he was asked to pay ?574, 574. He said the bank could not release the amount in his account to him because the AFRC junta seized his documents.

The Police Council refused to give him his pension and gratuity in spite of a directive from the Investigations Board. He petitioned the PNDC Chairman, Rawlings and the Council of State on countless occasions but to no avail.

Mr. Kwakye pursued his case from 1979 to 2001 before he was given a paltry sum of ?22, 780 as pension and ?80, 000 as gratuity. He said he wants the equivalence of that money today since interest could have accrued on it if it had been in a bank.

Appiah-Agyei: I must commend you for your spirit of resilience. You struggled through the ranks and it's unfortunate you went through such ordeal. I agree with you that your medals should be replaced.

Did you have a formal letter that you have been removed from office? Kwakye: I was never given any letter.

Erskine: Good to have you here with us. I also like to commend you for fighting for your right. You rose through the ranks to IGP. What's your relationship with the police now? Kwakye: Cordial.

Erskine: Why hadn't you asked for the return of your medals? Kwakye: I did and received a reply from the IGP that I should come to the NRC. So I think you are the ultimate and the alpha and omega.

Erskine: You earned your medals. You can be a poor man but your medal should not be taken from you. Some died for them.

I am shocked that you were never tried and yet still a commissioned officer said he was there when you were tried. I see your health is not the same as before?

Kwakye: I had stroke but gradually God is helping me. Erskine: You should thank God. In spite of the stroke your memory is still sharp. Palmer-Buckle: Do you have plans to write your memoirs for posterity?

Kwakye: When I was in Togo I wrote my memoirs but I lost it when I was coming. My children have been asking me to do it. From now on I think I would be free to start writing it.

Another witness, Madam Janet Akua Yeboah said soldiers raped young girls in tents at Burma Camp during the 1979 coup. She said she lost her teeth as a result of beatings from soldiers because she possessed what at that time was considered a huge amount of money, that is ?25,000. She said they were beaten with the butts of guns at Burma Camp.

The former textile trader at the Makola Market said she the sight of a soldier makes her nervous.

Mr. Elias Issahaku said a group of soldiers beat him and his colleagues including the current MP for Wa Central, Mr. M.A. Seidu without any reason after the 1979 coup.

In the cause of trying to escape, he said one of the soldiers shot him in the left hand. His left index and middle fingers are deformed as a result. Hearing continues today.