Revenue Supervisor feels relieved after telling his story

Ho, Jan. 21, GNA- Mr Yaw Boas Anto, a former Higher Revenue Supervisor of the Nkwanta District Assembly on Wednesday said his appearance at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) had relieved him of his hatred for Mr U.S Clarke, a former District Secretary for the area and some militiamen who inflicted physical and psychological pain on him in the 1980s.

Mr Anto said he had vowed to shoot Mr Clarke anytime he met him, but now "I feel free and could sleep peacefully having told my story to the whole world."

Asked by Uborr Dalaful Labal, a member of the Commission what he would do should any of the militiamen identify himself to him, Mr Anto said he would forgive the person, even though he had vowed to deal with any of them, if he could identify them.

Mr Anto said his ordeal converted him into "serious" Christianity and that he is a member of the Great Commission Church International. Bishop Palmer-Buckle, a member of the Commission, told witness to be thankful to providence that his ordeals had brought him closer to God and that he should truly forgive all those who have wronged him. "If you have any bitterness remaining, I hope you will get over it", Bishop Palmer-Buckle said.

Bishop Palmer-Buckle advised Mr Anto to carry out his fatherly obligations towards his children including those of his three wives who deserted him in his times of distress for "Christ's sake". Mrs Silvia Boye, another member of the Commission, told Mr Anto to be grateful to his senior wife for staying by him in times of need when her rivals chose to desert him.

She said Mr Anto needed to apologise and compensate the senior wife for being faithful to him.

Mr Anto earlier told the Commission that about 20 militiamen under the instruction of Mr Clarke beat him up mercilessly and made him to roll on the groun d at Nkwanta on allegations that he had come to bribe him (Clarke).

He said the bribery allegation was in connection with levy on lumber brought by an Alhaji from Kadjebi for sale at Kpasa. Witness said the militiamen who wore masks, subjected him to further beatings while he was kept in their cell at Nkwanta during which he lost three of his teeth, and had serious injuries to his testicles and other parts of his body. They also seized his motorbike, he added. Mr Anto said he passed bloody stool and urine as a result of the beatings he received.

He said he reported Mr Clarke's misconduct to the then Regional Secretary, who said Mr Clarke was difficult and therefore, advised him to take legal action against him.

Mr Anto said he sued Mr Clarke at the Ho High Court but he "manoeuvred" to have the case discontinued on the orders of the Regional Tribunal, which tried him and the Alhaji but he was acquitted and discharged.

Mr Anto said Mr Clarke afterwards got him transferred to Hohoe where he was warned not to stay in a remote staff quarters which was allocated to him because it was a ploy to eliminate him. He said later the Hohoe District administration set up a committee to investigate all revenue collectors on transfer to the district while he was accused of wrongdoing but was again exonerated. Witnessed said after the investigations, he was asked to go to the pension office in Accra where he was issued with a cheque for 1.5 million cedis.

He said a lady at the pension office discovered that he had worked for more than 35 years and therefore, withdrew the cheque and put him on a monthly pension of 140,000 cedis, which has now increased to 240,000 cedis.

Mr Anto said he was grateful that he was exonerated from all that he was accused of and prayed the Commission to have his motorbike restored to him.