Whilst some Ghanaians think the reconciliation process is an attempt to indict certain individuals like ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, on-going investigations and research indicate that he could benefit from proceedings of the National Reconciliation Commission. Sources close to the ex-President have hinted that Rawlings who was the chairman of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and some of his colleagues intend to drag President Kufuor?s National Security Advisor, General (rtd) Joshua Hamidu to the National Reconciliation for his role during the brief AFRC period from June 4-September 23, 1979.
This is because there are lots of instances of human rights abuses and decisions that were made without the knowledge of the ex-President.
The sources said some of the AFRC members will give evidence to prove the alleged active role that the former General played, especially in the execution of one of the eight Generals and senior officers in June 1979. The Dispatch recalls that in the year 2000, Dr Tony Aidoo, then Minister of Defence in a radio programme with Gen Hamidu made very serious allegations concerning the General?s role in the executions.
Research conducted by the ?Daily Dispatch? indicates that Rawlings thought very highly of General Hamidu during the uprising. The paper says in Kevin Shillington?s book, ?Ghana and the Rawlings Factor?, a paragraph on page 37 states: ?early in 1978, soon after the UNIGOV referendum, Group Captain Okyne assembled a durbar which was an opportunity for the squadron?s young officers and other ranks to express their anger and frustration.
Rawlings was said to have been the most out-spoken at the meeting. He demanded the immediate removal of Acheampong and cited General Joshua Hamidu and Okyne who seemed at that time to be the sort of clean and honest officers, who could take over the country and clear it of corruption.?
It quotes Page 46 of the same book, which said ?sometime after, the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Joshua Hamidu, identifying himself firmly with the uprising, announced on radio that the forces of revolution had prevailed and the hypocrisy of Acheampong and Akuffo regimes was at an end.? The Disptach quotes other books that cite Hamidu in the uprising, which resulted in some of the worst human rights abuses.
