CDD-Ghana urges government to condemn Ashaiman military brutality

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has strongly condemned the brutal force used by military officers in a swoop at Ashaiman, Greater Accra Region. 

It has also urged the Executive branch of government to condemn and sanction the military officers implicated in the barbaric episode to prevent a generalized state of lawlessness and anarchy.

The operation was authorized by the Military High Command following the alleged killing of a young military officer, Trooper Imoro Sherrif, by unknown assailants in the town on March 4, 2023.

The military operation, which was aimed at finding the perpetrators of the crime, left many unsuspecting civilian residents of Ashaiman with various degrees of injuries, with others confined to their households for hours in fear of falling victim to the barbaric and unprofessional conduct of the military personnel. About 184 persons were reportedly arrested during the exercise by the military, with some tortured and others subjected to all kinds of inhumane treatment.

In a statement, CDD-Ghana expressed its disappointment with the revelation that the flagrantly unprofessional and barbaric conduct by military personnel was sanctioned by the military hierarchy and received justification and approval from a Deputy Minister of Defence, Kwaku Amankwa Manu.

The CDD-Ghana pointed out that the alleged killing of a military officer and its investigation was a matter of internal security and criminal law enforcement, which is the exclusive mandate of the Ghana Police Service, and not the Ghana Armed Forces.

The organization emphasized that the Ghana Armed Forces should not unilaterally use arms, military accoutrements, and other public-funded resources entrusted to their care for the defence of the nation to avenge a crime committed against one of their own.

It said the action undermined the rule of law and created uneasiness among the civilian population.

The CDD-Ghana urged Parliament to investigate the incident, impose sanctions on all persons implicated in the swoop at Ashaiman, and ensure that justice is done.

The organization also advised all persons directly affected by the conduct of the military personnel at Ashaiman to seek redress at the courts.

It has also urged the Executive branch of government to condemn and sanction the military officers implicated in the barbaric episode to prevent a generalized state of lawlessness and anarchy.

The operation was authorized by the Military High Command following the alleged killing of a young military officer, Trooper Imoro Sherrif, by unknown assailants in the town on March 4, 2023.

The military operation, which was aimed at finding the perpetrators of the crime, left many unsuspecting civilian residents of Ashaiman with various degrees of injuries, with others confined to their households for hours in fear of falling victim to the barbaric and unprofessional conduct of the military personnel. About 184 persons were reportedly arrested during the exercise by the military, with some tortured and others subjected to all kinds of inhumane treatment.

In a statement, CDD-Ghana expressed its disappointment with the revelation that the flagrantly unprofessional and barbaric conduct by military personnel was sanctioned by the military hierarchy and received justification and approval from a Deputy Minister of Defence, Kwaku Amankwa Manu.

The CDD-Ghana pointed out that the alleged killing of a military officer and its investigation was a matter of internal security and criminal law enforcement, which is the exclusive mandate of the Ghana Police Service, and not the Ghana Armed Forces.

The organization emphasized that the Ghana Armed Forces should not unilaterally use arms, military accoutrements, and other public-funded resources entrusted to their care for the defence of the nation to avenge a crime committed against one of their own.

It said the action undermined the rule of law and created uneasiness among the civilian population.

The CDD-Ghana urged Parliament to investigate the incident, impose sanctions on all persons implicated in the swoop at Ashaiman, and ensure that justice is done.

The organization also advised all persons directly affected by the conduct of the military personnel at Ashaiman to seek redress at the courts.