Suspect In "Kume Preko" Killings Gives Evidence

The suspect who was recently arrested by the police in connection with the May 11, 1995 “Kume Preko” killings has reportedly admitted that he conveyed some soldiers to the scene of the demonstration.

The suspect known as Joseph Asamani has however denied killing anybody during the demonstration. According to him, he was only ordered by his superiors to drive some soldiers to check the Kume Preko demonstrators. The names of his superiors are yet to be known.

He noted that he did not handle any weapon that day but the soldiers he conveyed to parts of Accra-Central where the demonstration took place had weapons. He told the police that even-though his colleagues fired shot into the air to disperse the demonstrators, they did not kill anybody.

Asked if he can identify some of those who were on the operation, he replied in the affirmative and provided some names to the police. Asamani could not provide all the names because according to him, the men were young soldiers who he did not personally know.

The suspect is currently on bail and is required to report to the police on daily basis. It will be recalled that a Ghanaian Newspaper, “The Crusading Guide” reported last week that Asamani has been arrested by the police following a tip-off given by the paper.

According to the paper, on May 11, 1995, Asamani was seen driving a white Nissan Patrol with registration, ARC 9110, believed to belong to Ex- President Rawlings’ personal security detail at the scene of the demonstration. Some of the security men are alleged to have alighted and shot blankly at four by-standers cheering the demonstrators.

The “Kume Preko” demonstrations was organised by a group known as Alliance for Change in protest against the introduction of Value Added Tax by the NDC government which was in power at that time.