Accra, Dec 15, GNA-Lieutenant (rtd) Ebenezer Osei-Poku then of Ho B Squadron Unit, on Monday said Lt S .B Arthur, who was then Acting Commander of the Unit used the military strategy of deception to get Yeboah to participate in the 1967 abortive coup.
Lt Osei-Poku said Lt S B Arthur told Yeboah and the soldiers serving under him (Lt Arthur) that the exercise was an anti smuggling one only to turn out later that it was to oust the National Liberation Council (NLC).
Testifying before a National Reconciliation Commission hearing in Accra, Lt Osei-Poku said Yeboah realised that he had been deceived into the coup attempt when he was in detained at the Ussher Fort Prison.
Witness condemned the atrocities that the soldiers, numbering about 120, went through after the coup was foiled, but said that the "1967 attempted coup should not be condemned" arguing that it was an attempt to end an un-constitutional military regime.
He based his argument on the 1960, 1969, and 1992, republican constitutions. He did not quote which section of the 1960 constitution endorsed a military action to end an unconstitutional government and this was pointed out to witness by Ubbor Dalafu Labal, a member of the Commission.
Lt Osei Poku said Lt Arthur who had told the troops to further their anti smuggling exercise at the Aflao border area, to Winneba were rather told at Afienya of a coup to oust the NLC.
He said Lt Arthur dispatched the troops under different Commanders to different locations and assigned him to commandeer a group to take over the Osu Castle, which he said he carried out successfully.
He said one Col Bernasko and Capt Kumi, whom he described as friends invited him to the 2BN, for a compromise which was reached.
Witness said they went to one Brg. Brocke, at the 2BN, where he was rather arrested and placed in custody for three days at the Ussher Fort Prison and later interrogated by a panel, including Mr A K Deku at the Police Information Room.
Lt Osei-Poku said Mr Deku interrogated him and suggested to him that
one Nana Dwaben Serwaa gave him money to stage a coup. The Witness said Mr Deku gave instructions and signalled some soldiers around to brutalise him, but Mr Deku who was present at the Commission and represented by lawyers denied Witness' claims.
Lt Osei-Poku said he was later taken back to the Ussher Fort, court marshalled and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment, while Arthur and Yeboah were sentenced to death.
The Witness said he was released under the government of Gen I Kutu Acheampong, and later granted an unconditional and absolute pardon under the government of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) in 1979. Lt Osei-Poku said his colleagues were later recalled into the army, but he was "flushed out", without his retirement package. He prayed the Commission to help him get a copy of the trial proceedings, which he said he had since been denied because it had been regarded as one of the nation's secrets.
He also prayed for to he him get compensation for the injuries he said he sustained for the brutalities during his arrest and interrogation. Witness said civilians had a prejudice against him as a coup maker.
Ex Staff Sgt Issaka Hamidu, another Witness, told the Commission he never had an interview he was invited from Ghanbatt 20, while serving on a peace mission to have with the then Forces Commander General Arnold Quainoo in 1984 back.
The Witness, who said his invitation was a case of mistaken identity for one Sgt Hamidu of the Sixth Training Battalion in Kumasi. Ex Staff Sgt Hamidu said he was arrested on arrival, sent to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and accused of being in league with General Joshua Hamidu, Major Twumasi and Major Andoh to overthrow the government of the Provisional National Defence Council. The Witness said after being detained for seven months at the BNI, he was transferred to the Usher Fort Prison where he was detained without charge for two years.
He said he was discharged with a lesser rank, which affected his pension, and moreover his discharge book in which it was stated that his services were no longer required, had affected his chances to secure a job.
He prayed the Commission to recommend for him to be put on the correct pension, and help him get his allotment, which he was denied when he was on peace-keeping duties.
When Ex-Staff Sergeant Archison Kojo Nti, ex Military Intelligence Officer, took the witness seat, he said he was arrested when he surrendered himself to Signal Regiment and detained for five days in their Guardroom.
He said he was transferred to the Gondar Barracks, then to Usher Forts but was later re-instated into the Army, paid his emoluments for period of his detention, and promoted twice before his retirement.
Witness prayed for a compensation for his arrest and brutalities. However, General Emmanuel Erskine, a member of the Commission said the Witness was the first soldier who had come to the Commission with a report of having been detained, went through ordeals, reinstated and promoted.
"You have to count yourself lucky", Gen Erskine said. The Witness replied: "That's why I thank my Lord."
