YESTERDAY : I kept away from the net yesterday reflecting on the frightening and frightful experience 31 years ago yesterday. In his book, Ghana Under Rawlings Early Years, Dr Emmanuel Hansen wrote On 24 November, in a spectacular show of force characteristic of the James Bond extravaganza, Rawlings led a platoon of armed soldiers in a helicopter assault on the house of Zaya Yeebo, Secretary for Youth and Sports and arrested two inmates, Ofosu Tata, an economics graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon and Deputy Editor of the Workers Banner who was credited with the editorship of the vicious attack on the IMF and the negotiating team under the caption of ‘IMF, we still disagree’, and Nicholas Atampugre, a sociology graduate, also of the University of Ghana, Legon and a Coordinator of the Police Defence Committee. This was a brutal experience as Rawlings, armed to the teeth, with a helicopter load of a platoon of armed soldiers, forced us unarmed civilians on to our knees in public and tormented us with J. J. Rawlings, himself, pointing his corked gun at our nostrils, one after the other, and tormenting us just because we merely supported the majority position in the government on the IMF and the World Bank involvement. Majority in the government did not have the gun! On our knees that day, including a woman organizer, were (1) Kwasi Adu, the Chair of the National Youth Organizing Commission (2) Mustafa Kutana, Deputy National Coordinator of the Peoples and Workers Defence Committees (3) George Agyekum, a Chairman of the Public Tribunal (4) Taata Ofosu, Deputy Editor of the Workers Banner - publication of the United Front of the June 4 Movement and the Peoples Revolutionary League of Ghana. (4) Nicholas Atampugre, Political Coordinator of the Armed Forces and Police Defence Committees (5) Esther Yaa Akuamoah Boateng, Founder of the 31st December Womens Movement (the movement Rawlings wife later stole to become her personal property after the unexplainable death of one of the founders - Cynthia Nuamah) in Volta Region. (6) Richard Asamany, PNDC District Secretary for Kpandu in Volta Region. (7) Prosper Lagble, PNDC District Secretary for Ho in Volta Region, (8) Kwame Adjimah, Volta Regional Political Coordinator of the Armed Forces and Police Defence Committees. and (9) Explo Nani-Kofi (myself). At one stage during the ordeal, Lt Richter Addo, chief body guard of J. J. Rawlings - also armed to the teeth - threatened shooting Richard Asamany if Richard dared shiver again. Hmmnn . . . . . Bombadier Felix Dikro was lucky that the operation had started before he arrived and Douglas Wagba was fortunate that although he was a member of the Volta entourage he didnt sleep in the house and my dear friend, Cpl Adu (now EOCO DSP) just missed the experience narrowly because he didnt arrive in Ho early enough in the day to make the trip. Hmmnn, 31 years ago, for being with the majority position which didnt have a gun, the minority position with the gun did what it cowardly do because of the imbalance in wielding arms! 31 years down the line the Kilombo Centre for Citizens Rights and Conflict Resolution, Peki, Ghana. Resolution revives the struggle for the alternative to IMF and World Bank austerity diktat from the grass roots in Africa. Our salute and tribute to our comrade and compatriot, Kwame Adjimah, who was murdered by the thugs of J. J. Rawlings led by Sgt Agoha (according to then Bombadier Tamakloe - now head of security of Ho Regional Hospital- who drove him from Ho Mortar Barracks to Accra Air Force Barracks).
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 11:25:48 +0000
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