Captain (Rtd) Budu Koomson has disclosed the one thing that keeps him going in exile for over two decades after his numerous fights during Ghana’s revolutionary years.

The former senior officer said a prayer contained in a prayer book his mother gave to him sustained him through his dark years after the mutiny.

Captain Koomson recently disclosed to Joy News after the release of the ‘Scars of the revolution’ that he was suicidal after the June 4, 1979, revolution.

Narrating his role in the killing of two former military generals; Ignatius Kutu Acheampong and Major-General Edward Kwaku Utuka, Captain Koomsom said he was called that morning to drive them to the firing squad.

He said like a typical military officer who had to obey the command of his superiors, he drove them to their death although he was not in favour of the action. 

The security consultant told Daniel Dadzie on the AM Show that he had to undergo two years of counselling after he witnessed some of the most gruesome murders and tortures within the period.

“Thankfully, I am now okay,” the senior officer of the 5th Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces said.

According to him, “There was one prayer my mother always made me read and I knew it off the top of my head…it always helped me [to forge ahead] and not to be bitter.”

Listed under the prayer for fortitude, Captain Koomson read:

“Oh God, give me the strength to live another day,

Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties

Let me not lose faith in my fellow men

Keep me sweet and sound of heart in spite of ingratitude, treachery or meanness

Preserve me from minding little things or giving them

Help me keep my heart clean and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity

Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things

Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth

Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness

And make me the cup of strength to suffering souls

In the name of the strong deliverer.”

“This was what kept me going in the days when I was chased as a common thief in Lome…because I was a refugee. I had to run into the sea to save myself in the night…I had to beg to eat on the streets of Lome,” he recounted.

Disclosing what led to his exile, he said, “It was not like I liked fighting but I always found myself at the wrong place at the wrong time or the right place at the wrong time and the fights kept on coming...At the end of the day, I had one fight too many and it cost me two years in exile.” 

He said he was happy for what God has done in his life and how far he has come.

“That is why I am not bitter,” he added.   

Speaking about his reservation about the coup he said, “These coups would not have succeeded if other officers had been interventionist.

He said as the likes of Col Otengs disclosed in the documentary “some officers like Odartey Wellington died because his colleagues refused to come out and behave as soldiers to fight…they hid.”

Captain Budu Koomson said due to this, “a few officers were left with the ball all the time.” 

He wants those who caused atrocities to be brought to book.