Late Kaaka’s family boycotts Committee of Inquiry

The family of the late Ibrahim Mohammed aka ‘Kaaka’ has said it will not participate in the hearings of the ministerial committee of inquiry because they are “less certain of the scope, focus, real intent and even the utility of the ongoing inquiry.”

The family in a letter addressed to the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, said its expectations have not been met by the work of the committee so far and consequently decided to boycott it.

“We, the family of Ibrahim ‘Kaaka’ Mohammed, regret to formally notify you of our decision to not participate in the ongoing public inquisition, which is purportedly concerned with the “circumstances that led to the unfortunate occurrences of Tuesday, 29th June 2021.

“However, events over the past few days, have left less certain of the scope, focus, real intent and even utility of the ongoing inquiry. As such, we feel let down in our enthusiasm for what we assumed would provide a much-needed opportunity for truth, soul-searching and institutional accountability for state-sanctioned violence,” the letter said.

It added: “In addition, having sought and obtained independent legal advice as to the work of the Committee, and our rights vis-à-vis the Committee, we have become apprehensive of the substantive and procedural regularity of the Committee’s work. We are also now concerned that the Committee’s work does not provide the appropriate framework for a full, faithful and impartial inquiry, as envisaged under Article 278 of the 1992 Constitution. In this connection, we note, in particular:

“(1) Our regret with the decision to not establish this inquiry using the powers provided for under Article 278 of the 1992 Constitution. We are concerned that the failure to institute a proper Commission of Inquiry under Article 278, means that this Committee of inquiry does not have the powers, rights and privileges of the High Court or a Justice of the High Court at a trial. As such, the Committee has no power to (a) enforce the attendance of witnesses and examine them on oath.”

“Watching the proceedings over the past few days, we have found the Committee’s inability to enforce the attendance of witnesses and examine them on oath as well as to compel any documents, to be very puzzling. We are also concerned that these restrictions put the Committee in a position where it can neither vet, validate nor substantiate any statements made before it; nor cross-examine the testimonies of the witnesses on the basis of facts independently procured.”

Meanwhile, Justice George Kingsley Koomson led 3-member Committee of Inquiry has asked for a one-week extension to complete its work.

In a letter addressed to the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, the committee said considering the testimonies yet to be taken it is requesting an extension of the deadline to complete its work to Friday, the 16th day of July 2021.