As the nation reflects on the passing of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, a historic moment in Ghana’s political and judicial history has resurfaced — a moment led by Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong over 25 years ago.
In April 1999, the then young Engineer who later became Press Secretary to President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2001, confronted one of the most infamous chapters in Ghana’s Fourth Republic: the heinous abduction and murder of three High Court judges and a retired military officer on June 30, 1982.
Ing. Agyepong, whose father — Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong — was among the murdered judges, addressed a packed press conference Ghana International Press Centre then located at Circle, Accra. Flanked by human rights activist Kwesi Pratt, Kwabena Agyepong demanded that the case be reopened.
He cited new and compelling evidence and revelations that he argued had been overlooked or deliberately buried.
He asserted that fresh information pointed to the direct knowledge and potential involvement of individuals close to the then-PNDC administration. He claimed that a senior officer of the Special Investigation Board (SIB) met secretly with the PNDC Chairman, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, and two others during the original inquiry — a meeting he suggested could have influenced the course of justice.
Ing. Agyepong also referenced alleged confessions made by Joachim Amartey Kwei, the PNDC member who was later executed for the crimes, in which he reportedly retracted earlier claims and named the real instigators of the operation.
His demand was both forceful and emotional.
“Reconciliation must be grounded in truth. The conscience of the nation demands that this case be reopened.”
He drew parallels to evolving international justice standards at the time, citing the Pinochet ruling in the UK, which signaled that human rights crimes had no time bar and protection under political shields.
Why This Matters Today
With the passing of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings — on whose Ridge residence dining table the keys to the Fiat Campagnola vehicle were picked by Amedeka and his Gang of Four as disclosed in the SIB Report, this unsolved mystery has gained new public attention, especially after public comments by historian Lawyer Anokye Frimpong reopening old wounds and reigniting calls for more clarity in the 42-year-old unresolved murder.
Despite the passage of time, for many Ghanaians — especially the families of the victims — believe that closure was not fully achieved.
The events of 1982 remain a lasting scar in Ghana’s democratic evolution.
A Legacy of Courage
This historic press conference of 25years ago offers a reminder of Ing. Agyepong’s longstanding advocacy for justice, accountability, and the rule of law — values that continue to define his leadership message today as he seeks to lead the NPP into the future.
It also serves as a powerful historical reflection — as Ghana once again confronts the difficult balance between political legacy, truth, and reconciliation.
Original 1999 Press Statement Below:
