It is the cause, not the death, that makes the martyr –
Napoleon Bonaparte
A man, aged 42 years, could have started a family with children aged 15,10,5 and he would call himself a mature man. He could qualify to stand election and be voted for as president because Article 62 of the 1992 Constitution says, “A person shall not be qualified for election as the President of Ghana unless (a) he is a citizen of Ghana by birth (b) he has attained the age of forty years.”
Why does the judicial structure (Lawyers, Judges) mark Martyrs’ Day; lay down their tools (wig, gown, pen, paper, law reports) on June 30 every year.
It is a day worth remembering for its horrific circumstances and historical effect. On July 1, 1982 a news item on Ghana’s only radio station, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, reported that all judges were to be provided with armed security. Why the announcement?
An official announcement came later. Three High Court Judges and a retired Army Officer had been abducted at night during curfew hours of June 30, 1982. “Curfew hours?’’ 6pm to 6am? No night life? No disco? Shortage of beer! Soldiers searching houses for people accused of ‘hoarding’ everything including beer bottles.
You are not a ‘‘Bar’’ keeper, why do you hoard three beer bottles and what were you doing during the curfew hours? Soldiers beating, stripping women naked (opening their orifices, eye kanea, eye hann).
Jerry John Rawlings, 33, had staged the December 31, 1981 coup and was parading as the ‘owner’ of the country. After the June 4, 1979 one, in which he (or his men) had shot dead Kotei, Joy Amedume, Roger Felli, Utuka, and three former heads of state, I.K. Acheampong, Fred Akuffo and Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa, it was ‘let the blood flow!’
Prayers were said for Justice Fred Poku Sarkodee, Mrs Justice Cecilia Koranteng Addow, Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyapong and Major Sam K. Acquah. These innocent men and a lactating mother had been brutally murdered and their bodies soaked with petrol and set on fire to obliterate the gory action.
By divine intervention there was a heavy downpour and when found, the charred bodies were in a state of decomposition. The Provisional National Defense Council, genuinely or hypocritically publicly ‘feigned’ horror and, peppered by strong public pressure, set up a Special Investigation Board under former Chief Justice, Justice Samuel Azu Crabbe.
Courageous and professionally minded police investigator, Jebuni Yidana, produced one of the best investigation reports in Ghana and submitted same to the PNDC. Same was published with a Government White Paper.
The first revelation of the summary of findings, was that “the acquisition of two Flat Campagnola jeeps by L/Cpl Amedeka, Amartey Kwei and L/Cpl Senya from Tema and the State House on June 18, 1982, was the first overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy to kidnap and kill the three Justices of the High Court and retired Army Officer.”
Paragraph six of the Report states, “There is evidence which, if believed, would support a conclusion that the following persons (I) L/Cpl Michael Senyah (II) L/Cpl Gordon Kwowu (III) Ransford Johnny Dzandu (IV) Evans Tekpor Heleli, alias Tonny, (V) L/Cpl Nsurowuo (VI) L/Cpl Victor Gomeleshio joined the conspiracy with the criminal purpose of killing the three High Court Judges and the retired Army Officer.
“(c) On their way back to Broadcasting House, Amartey Kwei took from a house along the Independence Avenue, later described as the residence of Mrs. Agyeman Rawlings, a Fiat Campagnola jeep, already filled with petrol (d) Amartey Kwei was the hub around which the conspiracy revolved.”
Paragraph 21 of the summary states, “Having regard to the whole evidence, it is clear that the plot to kidnap and kill the four specified persons was master-minded by Capt. Tsikata (paragraph 292).”
Paragraph 24 of the Summary states, “The three judges were specially picked for execution and this was motivated by the dissatisfaction felt by some people at their judgements in which they freed some AFRC convicts. These atrocities could only have been committed by financial supporters of A.F.R.C. (Paragraph 318).
At paragraph 29 of the summary of findings and recommendations is stated, “On the evidence as a whole, it is clear that Capt. Tsikata (Special Advisor to the PNDC) Sgt. Alolga Akata-Pore, and Joachim Amartey Kwei (member of the PNDC on June 30, 1982) were all implicated in the conspiracy to kidnap the three judges and the retired Army Major. Indeed, Amartey Kwei described Capt Tsikata (Special Advisor to the PNDC) as the “architect” of the plot (paragraph 240).’’
The NPP government under J.A. Kufuor instituted the National Reconciliation Commission under ex-Chief Justice K.E. Amua-Sekyi, under the National Reconciliation Act of 2001 (Act 611).
A total of 3,114 petitions were filed. One of the aims was to investigate violations and abuses of human rights relating to killings, abductions, disappearances, detentions, torture, ill-treatment and seizure of properties suffered by any person within the specified periods.
Opportunity was given to victims as well as abusers to express their opinions. And Kojo Tsikata testified in his defense of the murder of the three judges and Army officer at the NRC.
It is the findings recommendations and reparations of the NRC (though not released to the public) which have dulled the conscience and acts of vengeance or vendetta of many a victim.
Do we need to say more? Except to ask ex-President John Mahama relevant questions as he says, “I want to sound a caution that the NDC has a revolutionary root and when it comes to unleashing violence no one can beat us to that. It is just that we midwifed this country’s democracy and that is why we must be the first to respect it.
“That is why we are acting as a party that is docile and respecting the rule of law, but if we believe that the government cannot protect our people and we believe that the government is using its vigilante groups and illegal forces to intimidate and harass and injure our people, then we may have to advise ourselves.”
Revolution? It’s déjà vu; (we have seen it before).Of course, with the approach of Election 2024, provocative and incendiary speech must be spurned. We cannot allow the sufferings of the martyrs to go waste. It was Jacques Mallet du Pan (1749-1800), a Genevan political journalist, Calvinist thinker and Counter-Revolutionary reformer who said, “Like Saturn, the revolution devours its children.”
Remember James Baldwin and his book ‘The Fire Next Time’? God gave Noah the rainbow sign. No more water. The fire next time. Is that what we want? Peace, reconciliation, development.
John Agyekum Kufuor, the great President (Gentle Giant). Congrats! The organisers of the Kumasi version of the Martyrs’ Day event: Owusu Sekyere, Esq., Shadrack – at St Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, South Suntreso. The sermon was well delivered by Rev. F. Mark Opoku.
We are reminded that “martyrdom is embedded in our profession” and that as Mark Antonio says, “The evil that men do lives after them.”
Thanks, Justice Mariama Owusu, Justice Eric Baah, Justice Hannah Taylor, Asonaba Dapaah … for gracing the occasion.
Africanus Owusu Ansah
africanusoa@gmail.com