A pressure group, FixTheCountry has condemned the military for brutalizing residents of Taifa-Ashaiman as they hit innocent civilians with sticks and other weapons over the killing of a young soldier.
Soldiers believed to have come from Michel and Burma Camp stormed Taifa on March 7, 2023 where the soldier was killed and started brutalizing residents.
The 22-year-old soldier with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) band in Sunyani in the Bono Region was killed at Taifa, a suburb of Ashaiman.
He was stabbed severally by unknown attackers Saturday dawn.
However, in a statement dated March 7, 2023, FixTheCountry indicated that nothing justifies the actions by the military on the civilians.
“As we understand, the military personnel descended on the communities of Ashaiman in order to avenge the alleged killing of a military officer over the weekend, through brutal force and terror.
“We, by this statement, condemn the actions of terror, brutality, illegality, and inhumanity of the Ghana Armed Forces. Nothing justifies rounding up and unleashing terror on ordinary and innocent civilians. This was an act of cowardice and incompetence,” the group stated.
They continued: “We reiterate that no one, including the military, is entitled to take the law into their own hands, particularly if it is to brutalize communities, rather than draw civic conscience to the injustices of our society and of the system of oppression that Ghanaians are subjected to on a daily basis.”
Below is the full statement
Press Release
7 March 2023
CONDEMNATION OF INCIDENTS OF TERROR AND MILITARY BRUTALITY IN ASHAIMAN
FixTheCountry has confirmed reports that earlier today 7 March 2023, a contingent of several military personnel armed with armoured cars and aerial helicopter support were unlawfully deployed into civilian communities in areas of Ashaiman where they unleashed untold violence and brutal attacks on unarmed citizens and passers-by.
As we understand, the military personnel descended on the communities of Ashaiman in order to avenge the alleged killing of a military officer over the weekend, through brutal force and terror.
We, by this statement, condemn the actions of terror, brutality, illegality, and inhumanity of the Ghana Armed Forces. Nothing justifies rounding up and unleashing terror on ordinary and innocent civilians. This was an act of cowardice and incompetence. We reiterate that no one, including the military, is entitled to take the law into their own hands, particularly if it is to brutalize communities, rather than draw civic conscience to the injustices of our society and of the system of oppression that Ghanaians are subjected to on a daily basis.
While we commiserate with the family of the deceased soldier, and call on authorities to take such steps to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book, we think that it is important that the conduct of the Ghana Armed Forces, as trained professionals, is reviewed independently for the impunity and disregard for our democracy that it is.
The stomach-churning images from Ashaiman emphasize the increasing tolerance of military impunity and the normalization of extra-judicial violence by the political class in this Country. On a routine basis, our elected officials have deployed military personnel into our communities to murder and to maim civilians. From Ejura, to Wa, through Techiman and Somanya, we continue to see these repetitive acts of extra-judicial violence and killings being meted on civilians while our Government looks the other way and refuses to hold the Ghana Armed Forces accountable for its violence.
Impunity has been made to fester; and if the Ghana Armed Forces is not brought to heel immediately; we are certain that our Republic will pay the ultimate price.
We demand the resignation of the Military High Command and call on the civilized, moderate and democratic elements of the Ghana Armed Forces to take over and enforce change and discipline in the Ghana Armed Forces. We are certain that there are many in the Ghana Armed Forces, who condemn these are actions and agree that Military High Command, including its Commander in Chief, are continuing to bring the prestige and respect of the Army into disrepute by these sanctioned acts of impunity and violence. Reform must come from within the Military first and as such we call on moderate elements within the Armed Forces to lead the needed process for change and reform in the institution.
We also call on the institutions of justice and all voices of conscience in this country to speak up; to protest and to fight for the return of rule of law in this Country.
We further call for justice for affected individuals and demand accountability and punishment for those involved in these atrocities.
FixTheCountry invites all affected victims to reach out to us by whatsapp on +233303959661, so that they can be directed to the due legal, medical and psychological support.
Signed
FixTheCountry
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
