From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:GHANA: OPPOSITION LINKED TO BOMBING CAMPAIGN
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 21:58:15 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: GHANA: OPPOSITION LINKED TO BOMBING CAMPAIGN


accra, dec 18 (ips/edward ameyibor) -- the trial has begun at a
national public tribunal here of four persons accused of bomb
attacks in the aftermath of ghana's controversial presidential
election in november.

only one of the four, a 21-year-old student hadi damba is
before the tribunal. his father and relations -- part of a
shadowy opposition movement code-named ''farighan'' which has
accepted responsibility for the blasts -- have skipped the
country to nigeria.

five explosions rocked various parts of accra and the port of
tema last month, following the nov. 3 presidential election in
the west african country won by incumbent jerry rawlings which
the opposition claims was rigged.

the case has led to the arrest or questioning of prominent
opposition politicians, including the leader of the new
patriotic party (npp) and rawlings most serious challenger,
albert adu boahen.

adu boahen was questioned by the police and admits to meeting
farighan leader tahiru damba -- now in nigeria -- who solicited
his support.

adu boahen had earlier refused to recognise the tribunal
arguing that it was biased and set-up to pursecute the
opposition. he has alleged intimidation and harrassment by the
bureau of national investigations, (bni).

however, the bureau has responded by releasing a transcript
of adu boahen's two hour interview earlier this month.

in the transcript, adu boahen first denies knowing damba but
later admits he me him only once. ''he came to talk about bomb
explosions and farighan but i stopped him saying i do not
believe in violence''.

boahen said he did not report the meeting to the security
agencies because he feared his supporters would accused him of
collaborating with the government. the npp leadership is already
under fire amid rumours that they may cancel their boycott of
parliamentary elections due later this month.

rawlings, has been in power since a coup in 1981. his rule
has been charecterised by a populist touch, implementation of a
tough economic adjustment programme, and human rights
violations.

however, his transformation into a civilian president was
generally accepted by international observers who declared the
election broadly fair. (more/ips)


ghana: opposition (2)

but violence followed the result. bombs exploded in a toilet
of the international airport here, a provincial office of the
ghana news agency, the railway line, a house, and a kiosk in the
centre of accra.

one was defused by the authorities who said the explosive was
unsophisticated and of the type used by the mining industry.

in an interview with the british broadcasting corporation in
lagos, tahiru damba said farighan does not intend to cause
innocent casualties. but leaflets circulating in accra warn that
the current campaign ''is just the beginning''.

the government has given the go-ahead to the security forces
to take all measures necessary to end the insecurity. arrests
have been made and hadi damba is the first to appear before
a court. (end/ips/ea/oa/92)

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