Murdered General Odartey-Wellington’s daughter wants Akufo-Addo to revisit NRC recommendations

Esther Odartey-Wellington, a daughter of the late Major General Odartey-Wellington, who was killed during the June 4 uprising in 1979, has urged the government to implement the recommendations of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC).

Esther, who is leading the Coalition for Truth & Justice Ghana (CTJG), wants the current administration to fully execute the government white paper issued after the release of the NRC report.

This, she says is to bring closure and some form of peace to affected families and individuals.

Esther is one of five children of the late military officer, described as “the soldier’s soldier”.

She was writing her O’ Levels examinations at the Achimota school when junior mutineers in the army discharged multiple bullets into her father body, killing him in the process at the Nima Police Station.

The late Major General Odartey-Wellington was Chief of Army Staff, who unsuccessfully,  led his troops to counter the June 4, 1979 coup d’état. He had earlier prevented another coup earlier on  May 15, 1979.

In a statement calling on the Akufo-Addo administration to act, the Coalition said they “will encourage the government of Ghana to implement the recommendations made by the NRC”.

“It is apparent that there is a dearth of information on that period of Ghana’s history” which must be brought to light,” the coalition said.

The group wants to highlight the human rights abuses that occurred in that period and seek redress as stipulated in the report using existing human rights legislation.

Established in 2002, the NRC uncovered human right abuses in Ghana between independence and the commencement of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. The Commission looked particularly into the military coups led by former President Jerry John Rawlings. The NRC submitted its report in 2004.

Among the recommendations was a comprehensive reparation that included apologies, memorials, monetary compensation, the return of the stolen property, health and education benefits as well as the establishment of medical trauma facilities.

Monetary reparations were supposed to be offered to more than 3000 victims who suffered various forms of human right violation especially under the governance of Mr Rawlings who led two separate military takeovers by junior officers.