June 4th 1979 Revolution—echoes Of Thoughts From The Grave Of My Father, Group Captain Kofi Abaka Jackson:

It is imperative that those who have caused financial misconduct against Ghana face strict legal repercussions to ensure justice and deter future offenses. Posterity must not forgive those who have betrayed the nation's trust; they must suffer the full consequences of the law. If possible, they should face the same fate as the eight senior military officers. This is a solemn call from a military cemetery for justice and accountability. Long live Ghana!

Every event since Monday, June 4, 1979, feels like a dream to me. The three-minute secret trial, the sixty-year sentence, and the drive to Usher Fort Prison also seemed surreal. As I was escorted from Usher Fort, I asked myself—would I have a retrial and get out of this mess? Unknown to me, the real ordeal was about to begin. My judgement from the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council Court (AFRC) was that it was morally wrong for me to borrow a forklift from the Air Force Station. I was also told it was morally wrong to take a loan from the bank, and so I was charged under AFRC Decrees 1(A) and 3(C), which ushered in the mantra of probity and accountability.

I was sentenced to 60 years imprisonment along with confiscation of any illegal assets. Pilot Officer Odae told me that I was tried under AFRC Decree 3(1)C, which reads: intentional or reckless misapplication of, or cause of loss or damage to, public property. The AFRC mantra of probity and accountability was supposed to be the core values and guiding principles to eradicate corruption from our society. However, since June 4, 1979, have we lived up to the tenets of probity and accountability? The June 4 Revolution has come and gone, leaving many questions unanswered.

The lingering question remains—who in our current political dispensation can pass the litmus test of probity and accountability under the AFRC Decrees? As a victim of the 1979 Revolution, I am not sure if I am in a state of bewildering ignorance because the levels of unprecedented creative corruption in our 4th Republic are unbelievable! Where is probity and accountability? Clearly, the indicators of corruption that ushered in those military coups—1966, 1972, 1978, 1979, and 1981 uprisings in Ghana—are so prevalent in our society.

The question is, why have we forgotten this history and the lessons from the past? Today, people are committing worse crimes under the guise of democracy. I am not calling for the same ordeal of my time, but if we have a code of conduct for public service enshrined in our constitution, why are we allowing public officers to commit grievous sins against humanity in our country without suffering similar consequences? Clearly, we are not enforcing the civil and criminal laws as expected against these corrupt officials.

Those who witnessed and shouted “oil or no oil, let the blood flow” are today engaged in unprecedented corruption and misappropriation of public funds exceeding $80 million associated with the Agyapa Royalty, National Cathedral, Pwalugu Dam, Sky Train, and Montangel. Now I question the intent behind the gold-for-oil policy. May I ask the current NPP administration, did the policy achieve its intended purpose, or was it a playbook from the infamous Enron executives to create, loot, and share? Or steal from the Ghanaian taxpayers?

Also, how come Accra is flooded from little rainfall, meanwhile the current NPP government of Ghana claims to have spent over $40 million to dredge the Odaw River? A country with debt-to-GDP over 100% makes it a priority to hire a luxurious private jet for presidential travels at a cost of at least $10,000 per hour. Where did Ghana drop the ball? Certainly, these acts of corruption would not pass the litmus test of the AFRC Decrees and would certainly suffer the same fate as the eight senior military officers.

Although it is my prayer that Ghana should never again tread the uncertain path of military coups, those who have caused financial loss to the state must face the consequences of the law. If possible, face the same fate as the eight senior military officers. Posterity should not forgive them! Long live Ghana!

Ebenezer Ato Ntarkurfah Jackson, Cornell University, MBA Class of 2015, [email protected]