Appeal for Kofi Awoonor

To the Editors:

The Committee to Free Kofi Awoonor is raising funds in an attempt to help Dr. Awoonor, the distinguished poet held for six months incommunicado in Ghana. After a show trial of alleged “conspirators” held in Accra, Dr. Awoonor is now on trial for harboring a fugitive. A retroactive bill known as the “Awoonor law” is said to be the basis for charges.

Amnesty International tried to send an observer, British Magistrate Sir Osmond Williams, to the trial but he was denied entrance without explanation. The Department of State of the United States of America seems not to feel it appropriate to send an observer from our Embassy in Ghana to this trial.

We have so far sent $500 for Dr. Awoonor’s legal defense and will be continuing our efforts to help him. Contributions may be sent to our Treasurer, Peter Benson, c/o the English Department, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794.

Alfred Kazin

Chairman

Committee to Free Kofi Awoonor