Air Marshal Michael Otu | Amissah Hearing | Accused of Plotting the Return of Nkrumah | March 1969 скачать в хорошем качестве

Air Marshal Michael Otu | Amissah Hearing | Accused of Plotting the Return of Nkrumah | March 1969

Thursday, March 13th 1969. Footage of part of the proceedings of the Amissah Commission which was investigating a Soviet-backed plot to restore the exiled Kwame Nkrumah to power. Ghana Air Force Commander Air Marshal Michael Otu and his aide-de-camp, Navy Lt. Ohene-Kwapong had been arrested in November 1968 under suspicion of being a part of the plot. The authorities made a connection between the seizing of two Soviet trawlers within Ghana's territorial waters in October 1968. Both Otu and Ohene-Kwapong were exonerated. Otu would resume his career during which he held the post of Chief of Defence Staff. Kwapong-Ohene would later become the Chief of Naval Staff, rising to the rank of rear admiral. January 1970: The Rehabilitation of Air Marshal Michael Otu. It was officially announced on Sept. 30, 1969, that Air Marshal (General) Michael Otu and Naval Lieutenant Benjamin Ohene Kwapong had been reinstated in Ghana's armed forces, with the Air Marshal being seconded to the Prime Minister's office for special duties. The Government had, it was stated, accepted the conclusions of a Commission of Inquiry under Mr. Justice Amissah, which had absolved both officers completely of complicity in any acts of subversion against the State. Charges to that effect against Air Marshal Otu, who with his aide—de—camp, Lieutenant Kwapong, had been arrested on Nov. 20, 1968, were first made on Dec. 17, 1968, by Mr. John Harlley, vice—chairman of the National Liberation Council. Testifying before the Amissah Commission, Mr. Harlley alleged that the Air Marshal had promised anti—Government plotters to arrange for the capture of strategic points at about Christmas 1968, and that he had earlier, in December 1966, been in contact with members of ex—President Nkrumah's Convention People's Party in London. Mr. Harlley also contended that the arrest of two Soviet trawlers in October 1968 was linked with Dr. Nkrumah's planned return. These trawlers, detained at Takoradion Oct. 10, 1968, on charges of having operated without licence in Ghanaian territorial waters, were released on Feb. 28, 1969. Their masters, Captains Boris Chernokolovand Valentin Petrovich Parhomenko, were fined 200 new cedis (£80) each at Takoradi on Feb. 26 but remained in Ghana on bail, together with Second Mate Yuri Chernousov, to appear before the Amissah Commission. The three Russians were allowed to leave Ghana on March 19, 1969, after Mr. Justice Amissah had confirmed that they had completed their testimony before the Commission. Early in November 1969 Air Marshal Otu was reappointed Commander—in—Chief of the armed forces. Meanwhile Mr. Harlley, while remaining Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Commission, had on Sept. 23 retired as Inspector—General of Police, according to the official announcement “in order to avoid any conflicts that may arise from his holding the two positions “.—(Ghana High Commission, London — Times - Daily Telegraph - Le Monde) (Prev. rep. Air Marshal out 23058A). Source of Text: Keesing's Record of World Events (formerly Keesing's Contemporary Archives), Volume XVII, January, 1970 Ghana, Page 23803 © 1931-2006 Keesing's Worldwide, LLC - All Rights Reserved. J.W.K. Harlley Alleges Air Force Chief's Complicity in Pro-Nkrumah Coup Plot | December 1968    • J.W.K. Harlley Alleges Air Force Chief's C...