My father’s murder; citizens’ abuse “unjustified”– Odartey Wellington’s daughter

Esther Odartey-Wellington, a daughter of the late Major General Odartey-Wellington, who was killed during the June 4 uprising in 1979, has criticised the justification of murders and abuses during coups recorded in Ghana.

“Whatever conditions prevailed in the country did not justify the sort of treatment they handed out to Generals, civilians and innumerable Ghanaians who suffered,” she fumed.

She spoke after the release of the ‘Scars of the Revolution’ documentary, which chronicles events during the 1979 and 1981 coups led by Former President Jerry John Rawlings.

Esther told Joy FM on Thursday that: “No level of national interest excuses visiting such treatment on any part of the population”.

She questioned why the military junta will accuse officials of corruption and proceed to mete out capital punishment without trial.

“How well-informed were they?… Did they put them before a court of law? Did they? They did not? Did the Generals run the country alone? Weren’t civilians in the ministry?” She questioned.

“I just can’t understand people who say, yes, they caused it. They deserved it. The nation was baying for blood. Whose blood?” She queried.

The late Major General Odartey-Wellington was Chief of Army Staff, who unsuccessfully, led his troops to counter the June 4, 1979 coup d’état. He had earlier prevented another coup d’etat on May 15, 1979.

Several generals were executed during the process with inhumane treatments meted out to those who opposed the coup makers.