Witness lashes at PNDC regime

Mr. Cyriano Kodzo Mensah Olympio, a witness at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), on Thursday lashed out at the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) for detaining him without cause, but said he has forgiven those who tortured him.

"There is a lot of pain in me because I did not do anything wrong to necessitate my arrest and the severe torture I went through," he told the NRC.

"I have really forgiven the perpetrators, but the pain is still in me," he added.

Olympio pleaded with the Commission to investigate what he called the genocide of the ex-government in the name of revolution that created a lot of problems for the country.

He said he wanted reparation to enable him to re-start his business. He said the PDNC seized all his property including six cars.

"Since many years have elapsed after the incident, I cannot even remember the registration numbers of the cars so let us forget about them. Rather I want you to give me reparation to do my work."

Olympio, who said he hails from Togo but has a Ghanaian mother, said he hated his surname because some members of his family were behind his arrest adding that there were many unscrupulous people in the family.

He said his cousin Morreto Olympio was behind his arrest. Narrating his arrest and what he went through, Olympio said on March 2, 1982, a group of people wielding guns arrested him at his Madina residence and took him to the Recce Regiment at Burma Camp.

He said the soldiers severely beat him up and blood oozed from his nostrils and his body.

"The following day, they took me to the Fifth Battalion where they put me in a small room as if I was a criminal," Olympio said.

He said they later took him to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) where he met one Lawyer Sackitey and Captain Owoo who had also been brought to the cells.

Olympio said a panel, including Prof. Kofi Awoonor, asked him whether he was a friend of President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo.

"I told them I knew nothing about what they are asking me."

Olympio said every night the soldiers would come for some people who never returned adding, "The blood of Jesus was on me so they could not kill me."

He said Rodney Kudolo, another cousin of his and one Anthony and Fiadzigbe sneaked out of the country and contacted the American Ambassador in Togo and the Togolese President to seek their help for his release.

Olympio said he spent five months in prison until President Eyadema was able to work for his release.

"President Eyadema that people say is not good released me from prison."

He said soldiers damaged his bakery during his arrest making him jobless. "I thank the NPP government and the Members of Parliament for creating this Commission and I hope it will help me solve my problem."