The recent request from the widows of the eight executed senior military officers, including three former Heads of State, that their bodies be released to them for decent burials, has sparked off public debate.

According to the Dispatch, a few people have said that the apologies by former Chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), Flt-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, should close the chapter. The Dispatch says it can reveal that there have been instances that Flt-Lt. Rawlings has expressed his lack of regrets for the 1979 executions.

During the 17th anniversary celebration of the 31st December Revolution in 1998, President Rawlings said: "I have no regrets about it. We had to take responsibility for it. The point is that the bigger criminals were around and are still around. You can go and quote me."