Tuesday, May 9th 1967.
Silent, grainy footage of the public execution of Lt. Samuel Arthur and Lt. Moses Yeboah, the leaders of the abortive attempt to overthrow the National Liberation Council (NLC) on April 17, 1967.
The putsch, which was dubbed "Operation Guitar Boy" by its instigators, claimed the life of Lt. General Emmanuel Kotoka. Kotoka was shot at Accra Airport by Lt. Yeboah.
News crews were kept at a distance from the firing range and were not allowed to film the execution. A crowd of 20,000 spectators were present. The NLC had the men executed in public because of rumours that the men would not be executed.
According to Reuters:
"The sentenced officers, Lieutenant Sam Arthur and Lieutenant Moses Yeboah, waved to the crowd shortly after arriving in an Air Force helicopter. The crowd -- which included many children -- responded with shouts and jeers and officials immediately put the officers behind an enclosure.
When they were led out to two stakes in front of the firing squad, Arthur refused a blindfold. After the execution, the crowd rushed through police and army cordons as a doctor was brought out to declare the two men dead. The bodies, wrapped in blankets, were taken away in a police van."
Source: Reuters News Archive.
1. Lieutenant Arthur said that he had masterminded the unsuccessful plot because he was dissatisfied with the Government and wished to be the first Lieutenant in history to lead a coup.
2. Chronology:
1. Coup ("Operation Guitar Boy") on Monday, April 17, 1967.
2. Court Martial commences on Friday, April 28th 1967.
3. Court Martial ends on Friday, May 5th 1967.
4. Execution of 2 of the 3 major participants on Tuesday, May 9th 1967.
See:
"Operation Guitar Boy" | Start of Court Martial of Coup Leaders | Ghana | April 1967 • Court Martial Verdict:...
Court Martial Verdict: Ghanaian Army Officers Sentenced to Death for Abortive Coup | May 1967 • Court Martial Verdict:...
10 сен 2019
