Tell Baako, He’s A Dead Man

Last Saturday’s edition (April 5, 2003) of Joy fm’s popular news analysis programme dubbed NEWS FILE’ provided yet another occasion for a “faceless coward” hiding under the “anonymity of Radio” to launch yet another round of threats of death against the editor-in-chief of The Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako, Jnr.

According to Mr Anthony Gariba, a staff member at the Front Desk (Reception) of the popular radio station, in the course of the programme, while Kweku Baako was making his submission on the nature of the “Rawlings phenomenon” against the backdrop of Ex-WO1 Adjei Boadi’s recent evidence at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), a man phoned the Front Desk line and requested to be put on air to react to what Baako was saying.

“When I told him it wasn’t possible to put him on air, he exploded, hurling insults at Kweku Baako and threatened that Kweku Baako’s life was in danger…”, disclosed Gariba. “Tell him (Kweku Baako) he is a dead man. We will meet him at the Labone Coffee Shop”, the anonymous, angry caller threatened, after which he hanged the phone on Gariba.

Gariba informed Baako about the incident/threat after the programme had ended. Baako subsequently informed the host of the programme, Mr Francis Ankrah, aka ‘Sankara’. A report has since been made to the security services. The latest threat comes after Lt., Gen. Alexander Erskine of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), Kweku Baako Jnr. Of The Crusading Guide and Baby Ansabah of the Daily Guide had been threatened through an anonymous letter posted to the Commission from the Osu Market (Accra) post marked 28th March, 2003.

The letter contained threats to assassinate them. The unsigned letter had no address and was purported to have come from a training camp. The letter warned that the above mentioned people and many others would be assassinated by slashing their throats, the Algerian style. A similar letter was received in March threatening the Chairman and other members of the Commission. The matter, according to the NRC, had been referred to the Security Agencies for investigations.

Meanwhile, the NRC had assured the general public that in spite of these threats, it is committed to the Reconciliation process and would undertake its function without fear or favour.