Accra, Jan. 5, GNA - Brigadier Francis Asiedu Agyemfra, former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Monday testified at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) which resumed hearing in Accra and denied that he had arrested and repatriated a military officer from the United Kingdom in 1971.
Brigadier Agyemfra was reacting to evidence given by Mr Alfred Kobina Bonney, a former Warrant Officer, who had told the Commission that the former CDS, then serving at the Ghana High Commission in London, arrested and repatriated him to Ghana for being absent without official leave (AWOL), after a Signals' Officers course in Yorkshire. Brigadier Agyemfra said the "allegation was false, misconceived and mischievous", and that he did not have executive powers to repatriate without the blessing of the Defence Advisor.
Another Witness, Mr Martin Agyei Okyere from Chorkor in Accra, petitioned on behalf of his late father in respect of a seven bedroom self-contained house which he said soldiers pulled down at Roman Ridge in 1979.
He said soldiers mowed more that 25 buildings which were said to be on government land during that exercise, leaving only walled houses and storey-buildings.
He said his father was surcharged for the bulldozers used in the demolition of his house.
According Mr Okyere, there had been a radio announcement that all property owners should remove their movable assets, but any time the family went to the site, they were scared of by the presence of soldiers.
He said the land had since been lying unattended and prayed the Commission to help him recover it. He also asked for compensation to develop the building again.
When Mr Abraham Bortey, a former police officer with the rank of Corporal took the Witness seat, he complained about his arrest by soldiers at Dzodze in the Volta Region in 1989, after which he was detained for 89 days at the Osu Castle and later dismissed from the Service.
He said he was made to join two other policemen who were earlier arrested.
Mr Bortey said the three of them were alleged to have been collecting "monies" from people but it came out later that they were framed up by one Sampson Yao Agbobli, an informant to the security agencies, who had been arrested a week earlier in a stealing case. The Witness said he had discovered a number of anonymous letters on Mr Agbobli, implicating him and police personnel in the area when he was brought to the Police Station.
He said Agbobli, had resisted search and had threatened to show "him where power lies" if he got him.
Mr Bortyer said his petition to the Police Council, the then IGP and Secretary to the Interior Minister were to no avail. He said he worked for 19 years, but was not paid any benefits. Mr Bortey prayed the Commission to help reinstate him into the Service with the necessary compensation.
Brigadier Agyemfra, who admitted being an officer to then Defence Officer, O.K Bonsu, at the Ghana High Commission, said Mr Bonney could not have been arrested at the premises of the High Commission because of diplomatic requirements.
In a cross examination led by counsel, Mr. Seth Matanawui, Brig. Agyemfra, said he was aware Mr Bonney went AWOL after his course, but pointed out that his Defence Section had no control of disciplinary measures the military Authorities in Ghana, meted out. He said Mr Bonney was subject to the code of discipline of the military.
Mr Bonney said he had information that Brig Agyemfra, then a Major, did not like him, and that he had been planning to arrest him. Mr Bonney, who said he was arrested after he went to enquire about his return home, was emphatic that Brig Agyemfra brought one Provost Marshall from Accra to effect his arrest and repatriation without escort.
He said, he was arrested by one, Warrant Officer Deku, upon arrival at the Airport and sent to the Burma Camp and kept under house arrest for about two months, where movement in his house was monitored. "They kept following me, even to the bathroom to monitor me," Mr Bonney said.
Mr Bonney said he was put before the Military Intelligence and accused of plotting to overthrow the government of Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia. Mr Bonney denied plotting against the then government. He said he was threatened with death with a pistol, and also to be sent to and fired at the Bundase Military Range if he did not confess to the coup plot.
Mr Bonney said it took the intervention of General Joshua Hamidu, before his innocence of the said plot was accepted, and he was exonerated.
He said the coup of General Kutu Acheampong made it impossible for him to be commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces. The Witness said he resigned six months later. Mr Bonney said as a result of his arrest and repatriation from the UK, his wife lost one of unborn twins babies she was carrying at the time as result of shock.
Mr Bonney denied ever appearing before one Brigadier Twum Barima, and subsequently being sanctioned.
Accra, Jan. 5, GNA - Brigadier Francis Asiedu Agyemfra, former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Monday testified at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) which resumed hearing in Accra and denied that he had arrested and repatriated a military officer from the United Kingdom in 1971.
Brigadier Agyemfra was reacting to evidence given by Mr Alfred Kobina Bonney, a former Warrant Officer, who had told the Commission that the former CDS, then serving at the Ghana High Commission in London, arrested and repatriated him to Ghana for being absent without official leave (AWOL), after a Signals' Officers course in Yorkshire. Brigadier Agyemfra said the "allegation was false, misconceived and mischievous", and that he did not have executive powers to repatriate without the blessing of the Defence Advisor.
Another Witness, Mr Martin Agyei Okyere from Chorkor in Accra, petitioned on behalf of his late father in respect of a seven bedroom self-contained house which he said soldiers pulled down at Roman Ridge in 1979.
He said soldiers mowed more that 25 buildings which were said to be on government land during that exercise, leaving only walled houses and storey-buildings.
He said his father was surcharged for the bulldozers used in the demolition of his house.
According Mr Okyere, there had been a radio announcement that all property owners should remove their movable assets, but any time the family went to the site, they were scared of by the presence of soldiers.
He said the land had since been lying unattended and prayed the Commission to help him recover it. He also asked for compensation to develop the building again.
When Mr Abraham Bortey, a former police officer with the rank of Corporal took the Witness seat, he complained about his arrest by soldiers at Dzodze in the Volta Region in 1989, after which he was detained for 89 days at the Osu Castle and later dismissed from the Service.
He said he was made to join two other policemen who were earlier arrested.
Mr Bortey said the three of them were alleged to have been collecting "monies" from people but it came out later that they were framed up by one Sampson Yao Agbobli, an informant to the security agencies, who had been arrested a week earlier in a stealing case. The Witness said he had discovered a number of anonymous letters on Mr Agbobli, implicating him and police personnel in the area when he was brought to the Police Station.
He said Agbobli, had resisted search and had threatened to show "him where power lies" if he got him.
Mr Bortyer said his petition to the Police Council, the then IGP and Secretary to the Interior Minister were to no avail. He said he worked for 19 years, but was not paid any benefits. Mr Bortey prayed the Commission to help reinstate him into the Service with the necessary compensation.
Brigadier Agyemfra, who admitted being an officer to then Defence Officer, O.K Bonsu, at the Ghana High Commission, said Mr Bonney could not have been arrested at the premises of the High Commission because of diplomatic requirements.
In a cross examination led by counsel, Mr. Seth Matanawui, Brig. Agyemfra, said he was aware Mr Bonney went AWOL after his course, but pointed out that his Defence Section had no control of disciplinary measures the military Authorities in Ghana, meted out. He said Mr Bonney was subject to the code of discipline of the military.
Mr Bonney said he had information that Brig Agyemfra, then a Major, did not like him, and that he had been planning to arrest him. Mr Bonney, who said he was arrested after he went to enquire about his return home, was emphatic that Brig Agyemfra brought one Provost Marshall from Accra to effect his arrest and repatriation without escort.
He said, he was arrested by one, Warrant Officer Deku, upon arrival at the Airport and sent to the Burma Camp and kept under house arrest for about two months, where movement in his house was monitored. "They kept following me, even to the bathroom to monitor me," Mr Bonney said.
Mr Bonney said he was put before the Military Intelligence and accused of plotting to overthrow the government of Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia. Mr Bonney denied plotting against the then government. He said he was threatened with death with a pistol, and also to be sent to and fired at the Bundase Military Range if he did not confess to the coup plot.
Mr Bonney said it took the intervention of General Joshua Hamidu, before his innocence of the said plot was accepted, and he was exonerated.
He said the coup of General Kutu Acheampong made it impossible for him to be commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces. The Witness said he resigned six months later. Mr Bonney said as a result of his arrest and repatriation from the UK, his wife lost one of unborn twins babies she was carrying at the time as result of shock.
Mr Bonney denied ever appearing before one Brigadier Twum Barima, and subsequently being sanctioned.
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