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Ghana: Police abductions and killings of supporters of the late Dr. Busia's Progress Party (PP) government, particularly in the Cape Coast area in 1970

Reports specific to police abductions and killings of supporters of the late Dr. Busia's Progressive Party (PP), particularly in the Cape Coast area, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Amnesty International states that there were detentions without trial after the  government of Dr. Busia was overthrown by a military coup in January 1972 (1974, 28). The majority of the "adopted detainees" were released following an amnesty in June 1973 but "there were a number of re-arrests and some of the adopted prisoners remained in detention without trial until December 1973" (ibid.).

A professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, who specialises in Ghanaian cultural and political issues, stated that initially the government of the National Redemption Council (NRC) under Lt. Col. Ignatius Acheampong arrested many supporters of Dr. Busia's government, but they were subsequently released (9 Sept. 1998). He explained that Dr. Busia's government was composed of highly educated members of the middle class elite and many went into self imposed exile. The professor also said that he was unaware of abductions and/or killings of Dr. Busia's government supporters in Ghana including in the Cape Coast area.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in researching the Information Request.

References

Amnesty International. 1974. Amnesty International Report 1973/74.  New York: Amnesty International USA.

Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan. Ann Arbor. 9 September 1998. Telephone interview with Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Chazan, Naomi. 1983. Anatomy of Ghanaian Politics: Managing Political Recession 1969-1982. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.

The Europa World Year Boook 1992. 1993. 33rd ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

Ray. Ronald I. 1986. Ghana: Politics, Economics and Society. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.

Yeebo, Z. 1995. Ghana: The Struggle for Political Power Rawlings: Saviour or Demagogue. London: New Beacon Books.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, World News Connection (WNC).

One oral source contacted did not provide information on the requested subject.