Regional News of Monday, 16 August 2004

Source: GNA

Aforo's exhumed body re-buried

Suhum (E/R), Aug. 16, GNA- The mortal remains of the late Sergeant Samuel Charles Yaw Lartey Aforo, popularly called "Bone Ben", whose body was exhumed sometime this year, was re-buried at the Suhum public cemetery on Saturday.

The late Sgt. Aforo, with Mawuli Dzra Goka, Kyereme Djan and others were found guilty on a charge of treason by a National Public Tribunal, executed on June 21, 1986, and buried in a mass grave.

Their bodies were however, ordered to be exhumed and handed over to the families by the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) sometime this year at the request of their families.

The remains of Sgt Aforo was brought to Okorase, a farming village near Suhum in the Eastern Region, where the funeral rites were held. The funeral was attended by a large number of mourners from all walks of life, including the families of Goka, and some military personnel.

The burial service was performed by the Catechist In-charge of the Presbyterian Church at Okorase, Mr Henry Gyampo.

He called on Sgt. Aforo's family to accept the death in good faith and said: "whatever comes in the life of the late Sgt. Aforo was God's creation and that death is the necessary end of every human being".

Mr Gyampo said even though the late Sgt Aforo might have gone through some difficulties before his death, "that was his destiny". He said the 1986 event would be one of the pains in the history of the late Sgt. Aforo's family, but they should continue to have faith in God.