There has been strong public uproar and discontent following the alleged killings of two persons by the Navy in Tema New Town during the Kpejoo Festival.
According to the report, three persons including a Navy Officer are reported to have also sustained various degrees of injuries during an altercation between the Youth and Navy personnel which resulted in the firing of live ammunition.
The Ghana Armed Forces in a statement following the unfortunate incident justified its action, stressing that its action was necessitated by the attacks on the Tema Naval base by the mob and also warned that it will not hold back should there be any further attacks on its installations or personnel.
However, the perceived justification of the attack by the Ghana Armed Forces has been met with fierce condemnations from several well-meaning Ghanaians including prominent media personalities and security analysts among others.
In a scathing critique of what she described as “brutish, autocratic killing,” media personality and seasoned journalist Bridget Otoo has called upon the public to condemn the recent spate of civilian deaths at the hands of the military.
Her condemnations she argued are underscored by what she described as the alarming trend of military violence with impunity.
Commenting on recent similar tragedies that have happened resulting in alleged military brutalities, the seasoned journalist recounted how such harrowing tales of “lives cut short” have been shrouded in injustice.
“What justification is there to kill? Every year the military makes it a point to kill and get away with it because the government looks on as more innocent lives are lost with no consequences. Last year, it was two people at sea, their crime was simply to go fishing …
“Before I come to the killing in New Town just a few weeks ago in Bawku, The same military used a similar method in Bawku and killed a young lady. The young lady was rushing home to beat the curfew and was run over by a military Vehicle”.
Bridget Otoo, Journalist
Such wanton disregard for human life, Otoo argued, underscored the impunity enjoyed by the military, which she stated is shielded by the government’s seemingly lack of interest in the loss of innocent lives.
GAF Statement Criticised
In a damning indictment of the military’s actions, the media personality further expressed her dismay at the official statement released by the Ghana Armed Forces on the Tema New Town incident, which according to her sought to justify the deaths.
Such PR statements, she strongly asserted only serve to further erode public trust and perpetuate a culture of impunity within the ranks of the armed forces.
Moreover, Security Analyst, Dr Adam Bonaa reacting to the vexed matter expressed deep regrets over the development, stating that the deaths could have been avoided.
He also added that the absence of accountability in similar incidents in the past is what is fueling the recurrence of the abuse of citizens at the hands of the military.
He described the content of the statement from the Ghana Armed Forces as having no sense of remorse or accountability.
Given the above, it is therefore imperative that the government swiftly investigate the alleged incidents of military brutality and hold responsible personnel to account.
Many have argued that without accountability, such atrocities will continue to occur, endangering the lives of civilians and tarnishing the reputation of the armed forces.
Again, there is a pressing need for the Ghana Armed Forces to bolster its professional training for personnel to ensure that personnel are equipped to handle confrontational situations without resorting to excessive force, thereby averting similar tragedies in the future.
It is also incumbent on the government and the leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces to take decisive action to address systemic issues and prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate and reckless loss of life.
Failure to do so risks further erosion of trust in institutions meant to safeguard the welfare of all citizens.
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