[ 2011-04-09 ]

Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr

Ya-Na's Murder: Rawlings has no video evidence - Kweku Baako
The Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide,
Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr has said former
President Rawlings’ claim of being in possession
of video evidence that could help in unraveling
the mystery behind the killers of the Ya-Na is
just a waste of everybody’s time.

He said the video evidence that Mr. Rawlings
talked so vehemently about is only a video footage
of a young man who claims to be one of the sons of
Ya-Na Yakubu Andani called Natogma Andani, taken
by the ex-President’s former aide, Victor
Smith.

Mr. Kweku Baako who was a panellist on Joy FM’s
current affairs progamme Newsfile this morning,
said the young man was brought into the country by
this present administration from his UK base to
assist in the investigations involving the death
of the Ya-Na.

He explained that Natogma Andani is reported to
have been in possession of an audio evidence of
what transpired within the period when the Ya-Na
was murdered, adding the audio recording was just
Natogma’s own view of what happened.

Mr Baako said Natogma was then invited over by the
former President whose aide at the time, Victor
Smith, took a video of Natogma narrating what
transpired.

He said if there was anything else, the former
president should let the world know, insisting
that this “is the kind of evidence Rawlings has
wasted our time with.”

Mr. Baako further accused leaders of the ruling
party and some elders of the Andani family for
peddling untruths and propaganda just to inflame
the passions of the people.

“The fury of the Andani Youth is as a result of
a subculture of misinformation, misinterpretation,
lies and propaganda by some NDC [functionaries]
and some Andani elders,” he said stressing that
“the worst culprit is Mr. Rawlings.”

He said the NDC has made too much noise about the
death of the Ya-Na only so they can gain political
advantage, adding even though everyone will like
to see the culprits of the heinous crime brought
to book, the processes must be done within the
confines of the law.

A leading member of the NDC Seth Ohene Ofori who
was also a panellist on the programme however
debunked the notion that the NDC wanted to gain
political advantage with the death of the Ya-Na,
explaining that the people of Dagbon must be given
an opportunity to settle their problems through
justice.

Mr. Ohene Ofori said the NDC was only trumpeting
the need to find the killers which is an
ingredient needed in the processes leading to
finding a lasting solution to the crisis in
Dagbon.


There is nothing wrong with finding Ya-Na's
killers



Deputy Minister of Information Samuel Okudzeto
Ablakwa stressed that it was not wrong for the NDC
to go after the criminals behind the dastardly act
and that the government is focused on finding the
culprits behind the death of the king.

He said comments from the opposition create the
impression as that finding the killers of the
Ya-Na was not necessary.

He said Ghana has witnessed too many unsolved
murders in the past and it has become necessary to
ensure that the country is rid off such chaotic
problems.

He further denied comments by the Director of
Communication of Nana Akuffo-Addo’s 2012
Campaign Team, Nana Akomea who was also on the
programme that the government funded the
demonstration by the Andani Youth.

Nana Akomea had earlier stated “there is no
doubt” that the government funded the
demonstration seeing how the demonstrators were
organised and transported within a short period
from the Northern region to Accra.

But Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa said, this could not be
the case as government was also at the receiving
end of the demonstrators.

He said the demonstrators, apart from calling on
the judiciary to do an introspection, accused
government of not preparing well enough before
going to court and therefore called on the
Attorney General to re-examine the facts in order
to do a better job with the appeal.

He however condemned comments by the leadership of
the Andani Youth who made threatening remarks due
to the absence of the Chief Justice when they
handed their petition to the Judicial Secretary.

Mr Ablakwa said such comments should not be
encouraged in the country’s body politic.

Source - JoyOnline

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