NRC: Arrested at gunpoint on two occasions

Mr Joseph Konor Aziabor, former Internal Auditor of the then Ghana Food Distribution Corporation (GFDC), on Monday told the National Reconciliation Commission that he was arrested on two different occasions at gunpoint by soldiers and taken to the Gondar Barracks and the Recce Regiment in 1979.

He said the soldiers accused him of hoarding food items, when in reality the said items were a national stock and the Commissioner for Agriculture should have been the best person to answer the questions on the stock.

Mr Aziabor, who said he was not maltreated in any way, registered his anger at being arrested later in the afternoon by soldiers, who refused to allow him to collect his kids from nursery school.

He said the soldiers insulted, sent him to the Air Force Base and detained him in the guardroom overnight, adding he was disturbed by the attitude of the then Commanding Officer, who did not apologise to him for making him a wrong target of questioning on the said stock.

Madam Juliana Mensah, a Witness who petitioned on behalf of her husband, Warrant Officer Class One Ebina who served with Ghanabatt 22, prayed the Commission to recommend the release of 18 packets of roofing sheets, sharpening machine and other items then valued at 649 dollars.

She said WO Ebina, who was then on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon in 1984 ordered the goods through an arrangement between the Ghana Armed Forces and Ofori Electronics Company, but Ofori Electronics failed to deliver the goods. Ex W. O. David Antwi, another witness, who said he also served with Ghanabatt 22, also complained of the failure of Ofori Electronic to deliver some goods valued at 621 dollars.

Mr Nathan Cheetham a former Supervisor of Mails of then Posts and Telecommunications Corporation said he was dismissed by a radio announcement without any benefit in 1984.

He said was later employed by the Ghana Airways Limited but was again dismissed on the grounds that he had earlier been dismissed from a government establishment.