Former leader executed

Press, 18 June 1979, Page 6

Former leader executed

NZPA-Reuter Accra, Ghana Ghana’s former Head of State, Ignatius Acheampong, has been executed by firing squad after ■ being convicted of squandering Government funds. The 47-year-o]d former Army general had stood trial before a revolutionary court set up by a group of junior officers who seized power in a coup d’etat 12 days ago. Another British-trained officer, Lieutenant-General E. K. Utuka, former commander of the country’s border guards, was found guilty of the same charges and executed with him.

The coup, led bv Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings who now heads the ruling Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, overthrew General Acheampong’s successor. General Fred Akuffo. General Akuffo is in custody and may also face trial. Accra Radio said that General Acheampong and General Utuka had been convicted “on charges of using their positions to amass wealth while in office and recklessly dissipating State funds to the detriment of the country.”

The executions were carried out at an Army firing range about 6km ’ from the centre of Accra. The same site was used for Ghana’s last such execution, in May, 1967, when two lieutenants were shot after an abortive coup attempt.

Thousands of people watched on that occasion, but at the week-end only a handful of journalists were allowed into the area. Civilians were kept away. General Acheampong, ousted last July after 61 years in power, smiled and waved a white handkerchief to the reporters as he was driven off to his death. He and General Utuka. 42, both had red hoods drawn over their heads before being shot.

On the-eve of the executions the Revolutionary Council had. announced that cases against former officials accused of corruption were being heard by a special court. The council said those found guilty would be sentenced to death immediately.