Kojo Sardine: The 62-year-old ‘friend’ of Rawlings punished to weed a 100-acre plantation

KOJO SARDINE V RAWLINGS: At the zenith of economic turmoil in Ghana during the 1970s and early 1980s, the late former President of Ghana, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, initiated a crackdown on individuals he believed were involved in profiteering from inflated prices of goods. One of these individuals was Benjamin Kojo Yemoh, affectionately known as Kojo Sardine, a man whose family shared a close friendship with Rawlings before he seized power.

Kojo Sardine’s grandson has recounted the harrowing story of his grandfather’s ordeal during that turbulent period, shedding light on the depth of the hardship faced by many Ghanaians. Despite the tremendous suffering they endured, figures like Kojo Sardine held steadfast in their dedication to their homeland.

The grandson described the wealth of Kojo Sardine during a period of extreme hunger in the country. While his prosperity was beyond the typical Ghanaian standards of the time, it was acquired through legitimate means, not illicit activities. Yet, that didn’t shield him from the cruel hand of the regime.

Kojo Sardine faced unjust charges of tax evasion and importing yellow corn during a time of famine. He was subjected to brutal beatings, imprisonment, and the confiscation of all his life’s work by a regime that terrorized anyone it deemed too wealthy by its standards. His family was left homeless and destitute, and he eventually passed away at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, his life cut short due to complications arising from the tumultuous treatment he had endured.

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In a stunning revelation, it was disclosed that in a court of law, under a democratically transitioned government from the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Benjamin Kojo “Kojo Sardine” Yemoh was found innocent of all the crimes he had been accused of and subsequently killed for. The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) found no legal basis for his arrest, imprisonment, and the confiscation of his entire estate.

This poignant account of injustice, survival, and resilience highlights the ongoing scars of a dark chapter in Ghana’s history. It illustrates the pain inflicted on countless individuals and families who were collateral damage during the country’s quest for change.

The legacy of Kojo Sardine and others who experienced similar hardships underscores the importance of safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all citizens. It serves as a reminder that power should never be concentrated to the point where the rule of law and justice can be determined by a single leader or a group of individuals acting on their own interpretation of justice.

The narration doesn’t seek retribution or excessive compensation but calls for acknowledgment of the suffering endured by those wrongfully targeted. The legacy of Kojo Sardine and countless others who suffered during Rawlings’ regime calls for a fair and balanced perspective on history, recognizing the atrocities and the positive aspects of leadership without romanticizing the pain that many endured.

It is a solemn reminder of the importance of cherishing the rights, freedoms, and democracy that Ghanaians have fought so hard to protect, and a call for justice, reconciliation, and healing for those who still bear the scars of that tumultuous era.

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