Dead Witness Suffered From Cardio-myopathy - NRC

Mr. Joseph Kwodwo Ampah, 76, the Witness who collapsed yesterday during his testimony at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), and died later "suffers from cardio-myopathy contracted from prison".

His body has since been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital Mortuary, Dr Ken Agyemang Attafuah, Executive Secretary of the Commission told the Ghana News Agency (GNA). He said the Ridge Hospital, where the body of Mr. Ampah was initially sent, said there was a problem with its mortuary.

Dr Attafuah said Mr. Ampah looked hale and hearty, and was accompanied to the Commission by his son, two brothers in-law and the Pastor of his church. He said Mr Ampah, domiciled in London, was to go back in mid-June. He was listed for hearing next Thursday, but it was recommended that his evidence was fast tracked to enable him to go back to London as he had scheduled.

Dr Attafuah confirmed there was no stand-by doctor for the Commission. In his written statement, made available to the press, Mr. Ampah, a barrister, who had lived in England with his family since 1954, and worked as a civil servant in Her Majesty's Civil Service, said his pension rights had suffered considerably by reason of his imprisonment in Ghana. He also prayed for compensation for suffering three months unlawful detention.

Mr. Ampah had also requested to be compensated for the loss of his two Datsun cars, and further prayed the Commission to call Mr. Addo-Aikins, Chairman of a public tribunal that tried him in December 1982, to retract a "false statement" he made against him and to render an apology.

Mr. Ampah said he arrived in Ghana from England in September 1982. On his return in October 19, 1982, he was approached at the departure lounge by three men belonging to the then National Defence Committee (NDC), a para-military organisation, who questioned him about two Datsun cars he had brought into the country.

They aborted his flight to London and took him to the State House for further questioning. The statement said at the State House, the NDC men searched him and discovered three small pieces of gold valued at 7,000 cedis, by then, by the value of a government assayer, adding that his father-in-law, a goldsmith had made a few jewellery for his daughter and his grandchildren.

He said from the State House, he was taken back to the Airport and handed over to some army personnel stationed there. They assaulted him till he became unconscious, "his suit soaked with blood."

In a supporting statement, Mr Ampah stated further that after soldiers had beaten him on the night of October 19, 1982 he was taken to go and meet former President Jerry John Rawlings. "What he told me was that why was I taking the gold to England when they needed money to buy drugs for the hospitals. I was taken to meet Rawlings in the company of Mr. Attiogbe and Mr. Bediako."

Mr. Ampah said on Octobner 20 1982, he was brought again to the State House at about 0130 hours and put on an open veranda, which became his abode for two weeks. He was given no blanket, and he slept on his suit.