Witness talks about beatings at NRC hearings

Accra, June 30, GNA - Madam Mary Kwarteng, Witness, on Wednesday told the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) that soldiers asked her to remove the baby she was carrying at her back, laid her on a table and flogged her 18 times with their belt at the Kintampo Market in 1982. Witness said she was trading at the market one Thursday when soldiers suddenly came to seize her goods including those of the other market women, adding that each woman was flogged 18 times.

Madam Kwarteng said she had some cuts at her back, the scars of which she showed to members of the Commission, adding that she received treatment at the hospital.

She said the soldiers sold the goods and took the proceeds away, adding that they were later marched to the Police station and were released after 2300 hours the same day.

The Witness said the little money she had was stolen as well as the cloth she used to carry her baby.

Mr Kwesi Amiaku, another Trader from Tarkwa, also told the NRC that in 1982 four soldiers came to his shop, seized his goods and flogged him several times with cane.

He said he could not recall the quantity of the goods the soldiers seized, adding that he became indebted and had to do menial jobs to settle the debts.

Witness said this brought hardship to him and the family, adding that soldiers also subjected his wife, also a Trader, to the same brutality.