Security analyst, Adib Saani, has called for swift investigations and prosecution of the arrested military police who celebrated the New Year by illegally discharging his firearm at the A&C mall.
Speaking on the illegal act by the officer, Adib Saani averred that if he is punished, it will serve as a deterrent to others to desist from such acts. He stated that if the trend of brandishing arms is not reversed as well by the appropriate authorities, the country’s state of security could be jeopardized.
“He must be held accountable for his actions so it serves as a deterrent to other officers who feel that their uniform grants them some privilege of carrying out these acts. No, we are a country that is governed by the law and we can’t just look on to this”.
Adib Saani
The Security analyst indicated that the military officer’s action was unacceptable because it was dangerous to the environment and to the people who were around during the celebrations which could have caused harm.
“You don’t misconduct yourself as a military person. We have a criminal code which is quite categorical about such actions in public and for him to have done that, he endangered the life of those around him”.
Adib Saani
Adib Saani mentioned that officers aren’t allowed to even display their guns except they are on duty or have been assigned to display weapons in public. This, he stated, is quite explicit in the arms and ammunitions act.
“So, he broke a lot of codes and he faulted when you go by the codes and all that”.
Police cautions security personnel
Meanwhile, the Police has warned that the public and security personnel who indulge in acts that impede the peace and stability of the country will not be spared.
Commenting on the issue, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Alexander Kweku Obeng, admonished the security agents to handle weapons handed to them responsibly.
“I would like to admonish our general public and also our security agents that we all have a responsibility to handle weapons and ammunitions very well and use them effectively and efficiently”.
Alexander Kweku Obeng
Alexander Obeng called for security agents to refrain from any act that would breach the 1972 firearms of Ghana.
Superintendent Alexander Kweku Obeng posited that the arrest of the military officer should send a signal to all that each security agent who is mandated to hold a weapon is to ensure that they comply with the law in order to avoid themselves from arrest and investigations.
The man who was seen in a viral video shooting into the sky several times at the A&C mall on 31st night 2021, Flt. Sergeant Nicholas Owusu Frimpong, has been arrested. The arrest yesterday, January 3,2022 followed a combine effort of the Police and the Military.
The suspect who is a military officer is currently being held by the Military Police. The Police in a statement after his arrest then admonished the general to desist from acts that compromise public safety.
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