You are here: HomeOpinionsArticles2011 04 01Article 206096

Opinions of Friday, 1 April 2011

Columnist: Nartey

In the matter of the killing of Ya Na and 40 others….

CHRAJ must investigate J.A. Kufuor and his security advisors for CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE – by failing to protect the lives of dagbon citizens when they had the responsibility so to do, and by that omission became accessory to the crime. - Ambassador Victor Smith, Prague

For three days (from 25 – 27 March, 2002) the Kufuor government, duly elected and mandated by the good people of Ghana, with access to all resources of state, had a duty and responsibility, under article 35, Chapter 6 of the 1992 constitution, to use every means to protect those many lives that were lost in the conflict in Yendi.

During the three days conflict the Kufuor administration failed to use the state resources(security agencies) and the power given him by the people of Ghana to intervene promptly to avert the carnage that eventually took place on the 3rd day, leading to the death of the prominent King of the Dagombas and several others.

Again during the three days of fighting in Yendi, President Kufuor, his national security advisor Lt.General Joshua Hamidu and his Minister of Interior ignored all the warning signals of the imminent disaster and failed to take necessary measures to prevent the carnage.

The security agencies also, especially the military and police personnel who witnessed the conflict and who stood idly by as the conflict raged, cannot escape blame for negligence if, after all their training as professionals, with the tax-payers money of course, they could not intervene to avert the gruesome outcome.

Enough evidence exist to prove to the whole world that the Government of the day, from 25-27, March 2002, without doubt, was accessory to the crime that was committed in Yendi between 25th and 27th March 2002 by failing to perform its constitutional duty to protect lives of Ghanaians.

The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice(CHRAJ) and Attorney-General Martin Amidu must immediately call for security reports by the BNI, Joy FM broadcasts about gunfire etc during the period in question.