Public Agenda (Accra)
25 August 2008
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has welcomed news that a joint UN-ECOWAS team has been formed to investigate the cold-blooded murder of 44 Ghanaians in the Gambia in July 2005.
"We hope this action will bring the much-desired outcome of a comprehensive independent investigation that will unearth the facts with the full cooperation of the states concerned and possibly identify and bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice", the Africa Office of the CHRI said in a statement issued in Accra.
The CHRI, however, has some "vital" concerns to put across. First, "There should be no further delay in executing investigations as already lost time will make proofs that much harder to establish."
Besides, the CHRI is calling for the membership, terms of reference, constitution and working timeframe of the joint investigation team to be made known to the public, so as to dispel any fears of bias and prejudice. The announcement will portray to public the competence and impartiality of the team that is expected to deliver justice to the victims.
It cautions that the "past mistake" of excluding the public from the investigation process should not be repeated. Thus, the process should take place openly and be accessible for the public to be part of investigation procedures.
"Most importantly, the victims' families who have been directly affected by the incident should be consulted to share their experiences, which will help in assessing a suitable remedy for this case and both victims' families and witnesses must be assured protection and sheltered from any possible threats," CHRI suggested.
Since news about the killings broke in 2005 human rights groups, led by CHRI, have persistently lobbied for the intervention of neutral oversight bodies like the United Nations (UN), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in the quest for justice on behalf of the innocent victims but without much success.
Suspicion, uncertainty and obvious feelings of frustration have been rife over the Ghana Government's efforts in finding a solution to the case. So far, a sole survivor, as well as, a Gambian police constable havee recounted the incidence, giving evidences of grave human rights violations that have attracted massive concern from Ghanaians.
Lamarana Jallow, who calls himself the Son of the Gambia, said Jammeh was the brain behind the killings.
"There cannot be substantial justice in this matter if Jammeh is excluded. He was part and parcel of these killings", he said in his intelligence report published by the Freedom online newspaper in April and republished by Public Agenda.
He narrated that the President was increasingly worried about the outcome of the Ghanaian massacre case, which was then being heard by the Abuja ECOWAS Court and said, "My colleague and former batch mate Interior Secretary Ousman Sonko and the other indicted officials were advised not to show up in court by the President since these killings were state sponsored."
He continued that the 60 West African Immigrants, majority of whom, were Ghanaians, were murdered in cold blood by our men here at the State House. Having given instructions for the killing of these Ghanaians, the President thought that the best way to cover his callous and barbaric acts was to prevail on the accused persons not to show up in court.
His piece of advice was, "Ghana should not waste its time and resources in pursing justice at the ECOWAS Court. The prime suspect is at large, who is no other person, other than Yahya James Junkung Jammeh. The Ghanaian case can only be rendered credible, if the prime suspect HE Jammeh is added on the list of suspects associated with this heinous crime against humanity."
The killings took place in the Costal village of Burufut. "As a senior Intelligence official, attached to the office of the President in Banjul, I deemed it crucially imperative to declassify National Security Meetings recently held in Banjul. The meeting was meant to cover these killings."
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