Editorial News of Wednesday, 24 February 1999

Source: --

Ghanaian Chronicle

The Ghanaian Chronicle the Dispatch both carry the story of Sergeant Alolga Akata-Pore a former PNDC, who is said to have broken his silence over the murders of three high court judges and a retired Army officer in the heady days of the 31st December Revolution. Akata-Pore who is currently living in exile in London, is reported as having broken his 18 years silence as a result of President Rawling's Fourth Republic Day speech at the Independence Square in Accra on January 7 this year. The Chronicle says Sgt Akata-Pore, has alleged that President Rawlings, then Chairman of the PNDC, povided an alibi for the resignation of Amartey Kwei, who it was rumoured as being involved in the murders, and then proceeded to have him executed.'

"Jerry told me that the explanation to be given for Amartey Kwei's resignation from the PNDC was that the Council people would be leaving and others joining the Council." Mr Justice F.P, Sarkodie,Mr Justice K.A. Agyepong, and Mrs Cecilia Koranteng-Addow, all High court judges, and Maj (rtd) Sam Acquah, were abducted I their homes and murdered at Bundase, a miltary firing range near the Tema Michel camp on the night of June 30, 1982. Amartey-Quaye and tow others were executed for their part in the murder. But Akata-Pore, who was himself implicated by the Special Investigation Board which investigated the murders and Captain Kojo Tsikata, described as the brain behind the murders, were never prosecuted as recommended by the SIB.

The Chronicle says Akata-Pore claimed said he first heard of the murders on his car-radio and when he went to see Rawlings about it, he was shocked to have seen Amartey-Kwei taking it cool and relaxing on Rawlings' bed. According to the Dispatch, Akata-Pore said when he heard that Amartey-Kwei, whom described as a close friend was involved in the murders, he tried to get the truth from him because he believed Rawlings could frame him Amartey-Kwei up, but he refused to tell him. The paper says Akata-Pore felt at one stage that he was being investigated by Yidanah, another PNDC operative and his group for his alleged involvement in the murders.

"I was made to believe that Kojo Tsikata had asked Amedeka to implicate me in the murder of judges... l became wild. I became mad about it. And l can say this is what contributed to my arrest on that day, because from that time, l lost all trust in Kojo and Jerry," the paper quotes Akatapore as saying.