EXPLOSIVE: A.K Deku Speaks on 1966 Coup

Lt. Gen Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a coupist

The overthrow of the Nkrumah government on February 24, 1966 continues to generate controversy and sometimes indignation.

Mr. A.K. Deku, one of the architects of the coup says that he was forced to join the plot against the Government of Ghana's first president.

“I was forced to join because by time I became aware of the conspiracy nothing could be done to stop it.

“Kotoka had already recruited many people in the army. The soliders were with him and the situation could not be changed” he said.

He was speaking in a pre-recorded interview on TV3's “Hot Issues” which is to be broadcast at a date to be announced soon.

Mr Deku who served as head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Special Branch of the Ghana Police Service described Nkrumah as “a very good man”

Now 94 years old, Mr Deku said the master minds of the coup were Harley, Kotoka and a Major Quarshie who was then working at the 37 military hospital.

He said the plotters met regularly in Major Quarshie house.

According to Mr Deku, General A.A. Afrifa who later became chairman of the National Liberation Council (NLC) was more or less the direct representative of Sir Edward Akufo Addo and Dr K.A Busia in the Government.

He said General Afrifa reported everything which happened at meetings of the NLC to Busia and Akufo-Addo.

Mr Deku claimed that General Ankrah, the first chairman of the NLC was removed as a result of a conspiracy involving two brothers Michael and Eric Otoo.

He also claimed that Mr Tawiah Adamafio, General Secretary of the Convention Peoples Party at the time was not involved in the Kukungugu bomb attack on Nkrumah.

He said the real plotters were Obetsebi-Lamptey who was operating in Accra and Dr Busia who had set up base at Lome, Togo.

Mr Deku said Dr Nkrumah and Mr Kufour were the best president presidents Ghana has had.

He refused to answer several questions.

Click here for this explosive interview.