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 With intention to seek justice for the families of the three High Court Judges and a retired army officer who were murdered on the night of June 30, 1982, Accra-based Clinical Psychologist, Mr. William Atta Warmann, has started exploring the possibility of various constitutionally mandate institutions in the country to arrest and prosecute former President Jerry John Rawlings and former National Security Coordinator, Capt. Kojo Tsikata for the murder of the judges and the army officer.According to him, he will use all available legitimate means including the Presidency to ensure that the families of the three judges Mr. Justice Fred Poku Sarkodie, Mrs. Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow, Mr. Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong and a retired army officer, Major Acquah, receive justice under the Presidency of John Evans Atta Mills.
Mr. Atta Warmann told GO last week that the security apparatus and the Mills-led administration must arrest and prosecute former President Rawlings and Capt. Kojo Tsikata for the murder of three judges and army officer, because they were allegedly responsible for the murder and their names have been mentioned in some circles.
He stressed that as others who were allegedly connected to the murder have been made to face the laws in the country “so should Rawlings and Kojo Tsikata also face the law”
“They should be arrested and prosecuted for the murder of the three judges and army officer. Rawlings writes a constitution and inserts an indemnity clause that you cannot be prosecuted for anything you did while in office. Is this because he is afraid of something or had something to hide”? He questioned.
According to him, “The answer is yes but this will not save you from your acts. All over the world a lot of ex rulers are being detained and prosecuted for their wicked acts even 10 years or more after they committed acts like torture, murders, rape and worse.”
Mr. Warmann told GO that “Parliament should immediately expunge the so called indemnity clause and allow the law takes its cause.”
On the night of June 30, 1982, three high court judges and a retired army major were abducted from their homes and murdered. Their maggot-infested, charred bodies were later found at Bundase, 30 kilometers east of Accra.
On July 4, 1982 Rawlings announced to the nation that the murders had been orchestrated by enemies of his revolution. When international pressure forced the government to set up a commission of inquiry into the matter, it was found the murderers had close ties to Rawlings.
Amartey Kwei, who led the “operation,” was a member of the governing council, a status equivalent to Cabinet Minister in the Rawlings AFRC. At the trial, Kwei mentioned an old Rawlings ally, Kojo Tsikata as the brain allegedly behind the “operation.”
The attorney General at the time, George Aikins, said that the evidence against Tsikata was not strong enough to prosecute him.
Source: The Ghanaian Observer (by Ramatu Yakubu-PIJ intern)
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