Accra, July 17, GNA – Mr Okesseku Afari Mintah, a Witness at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) on Thursday said he was detained for nine months at the Homicide Unit of the Police Headquarters because he was suspected for the murder of one Daniel Kobi in July 1992. He said he knew nothing about the death of Kobi, then a businessman at Asokwa, the same town he (Witness) was also trading adding that the case was sent to court and he was remanded in custody. Mr Mintah said he had a problem with the two Policemen, who arrested him because they refused to prosecute a theft case he reported about one Alhaji.
He said this resulted in a scuffle between he and the Policemen adding that the two severely beat him until he lost consciousness on July 30 1992.
Witness said he later gained consciousness at the Asokwa Police Station with swollen face with blood in his mouth and mentioned the Policemen as Detective Inspector B.B. Teye and Sergeant Afriyie. They told him that he had been arrested for the murder of Daniel Kobi. He said though his Lawyer pleaded for bail he was refused. Mr Mintah, who said he was currently human rights and anti corruption activist, noted that he wrote a petition to the then Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for unlawful detention but nothing came out of that.
He appealed to the NRC to help him find a job.
Justice Amua Sekyi, Chairman of the Commission, explained to him that in murder cases, magistrates could not grant bail adding that the then State Attorney was performing his duties as required. He advised him to contact the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) since they may need his services.
Source: GhanaWeb
