Rejoinder: ‘Judges' murder: Rawlings was not properly investigated - Acquitted soldier’

I have read the contrived tale told by Sergeant Alolga Akata-Pore on investigations into the murder of Justices Cecilia Koranteng-Addo, Kwadwo Adjapong, Sarkodie, and a retired Army major, Sam Acquah in 1982 published by www.myjoyonline.com.

I was blown away by Akata-Pore's lack of grasp on this watershed incident even though he was in the thick of affairs as a PNDC member and later a prime suspect in the murder of the judges and the army officer.

According to Akata-Pore, Chairman Rawlings knew a lot more about the murders and that truth has not come out yet.

Hear him:

"When there is a criminal act and an investigation happens, critical people to the incident have to be investigated. It is clear to everybody- at least at that time, everybody knew that the Chairman (Rawlings) had a lot to do about it and he wasn’t called to be investigated. How can the investigation be complete if persons of critical interest to the case have not been interviewed? I want the truth because I believe that there are some persons who operated within the PNDC – particularly the Chairman, Rawlings, who knew a lot more about the murders and that truth has not come out yet.”

What rock was Akata-Pore hiding under and why did someone let him up from that rock or did he slither out on his own? How can he look at himself in the mirror for looking the other way all these years? Did he just wake up to the realisation that Rawlings knew a lot about the murder of the judges? Why didn't he tell this to the committee that recommended for his prosecution some thirty-seven years ago over the murders?

Is it not intriguing to note that Sergeant Akata-Pore who was an original suspect in the murder of the judges but escaped prosecution at the behest of the then AG's white paper has suddenly emerged and think he can throw the dust into people's eyes?

I find his commentary and attempt to link Chairman Rawlings to this unfortunate killing as very disingenuous and utterly ridiculous.

There have been several attempts by certain nomadic minds in the past to implicate Chairman Rawlings in this dastardly act, but they all failed. We witnessed same lies and fabrication during the sitting of the National Reconciliation Commission in 2004. For how long are we going to rehash and re-cook history to make innocent people look murderous? This vicious and callous political opportunism ought to stop at some point.

I have revisited Samuel Azu Crabbe's Special Investigation Board (SIB) report four times over the last four nights with the latest turn being a few hours ago.

As a matter of fact, during night time curfew on 30th June 1982, three High Court judges and a retired army officer were abducted from their homes. Their charred bodies were found on 3rd July 1982 at the Bundase Military Range, some few kilometres from Accra.

The PNDC government, set up a  Special Investigation Board (SIB) to investigate the murders. A former Chief Justice of Ghana, Samuel Azu Crabbe was appointed the Chairman. Their work led to the recommendation that ten persons including two members of the PNDC, Joachim Amartey Quaye and Sergeant Daniel Alolga Akata-Pore be prosecuted.

Indeed, the SIB report indicted ten persons but the then Attorney-General issued a white paper which reduced the number to five. According to the Attorney General, there was no evidence to implicate five of the indictees but the other five- Joachim Amartey Quaye, Lance Corporal Amedeka, Michael Senyah, Tekpor Hekli and Johnny Dzandu were all prosecuted and found guilty. Of these Amedeka broke jail but the others were executed by firing squad accordingly.

Chairman Rawlings' name never came up in any of the investigations including the SIB report. It is rather unfortunate that folks like Sgt. Akata-Pore who proudly took part in events of June 4, 1979, and 31st December 1981 and know the truth, find it easy nowadays to tell tales about Chairman Rawlings just for political ends.

Sergeant  Alolga Akata-Pore, get your head out of the sand. As much as you and others like you would want it, Chairman  Rawlings has NEVER been found guilty or indicted for any crimes, much less the murder of the judges.

Justice was swiftly served in the unfortunate killing of the army officer and the judges. The perpetrators were dealt with and Akata-Pore knows this for a fact.

Read Full Story