Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, has criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for failing to mention the aftermath of the killing of a soldier in Ashaiman, during his State of the Nation Address.
Following the death of a soldier in the area, some military personnel moved to attack residents of Ashaiman, on Tuesday.
In a debate on President Akufo-Addo’s State of the Nation Address, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the President should have commiserated with the families of the deceased officer and the innocent people brutalized by the military.
“But the President did not say a word, he didn’t think that he should condemn the brutality and assure that there will be a committee to probe the killing and the high-handedness, meted out to the residents, and he is the Commander in Chief of the GAF?”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
President Akufo-Addo is under increasing pressure, to address the military abuses in Ashaiman. Many anticipate that the President will make a public statement on the subject, as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, advised the military to refrain from meting out extra-judicial justice to them, adding that there are many people who live and work in Ashaiman, who are innocent of this heinous crime. He further advised the military to exercise restraint and allow due process to work.
For him, the government must step in to address the situation between Ashaiman residents and GAF, while pushing for compensation for all persons affected.
Amnesty International Condemns Military Raid In Ashaiman; Calls For Expedited Probe
The latest to mount pressure on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is Amnesty International.
Amnesty International is a non-political, not-for-profit human rights organization, working for the promotion and protection of fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights standards. It is a global movement of over 10 million people, in more than 160 countries.
The human rights advocacy group claims that during his state of the nation address, the President had a chance to address the issue but failed to do so.
“Amnesty International Ghana, is against all forms of violence and human rights abuses and condemns the violence meted out by the military on civilians. The military is to take a step back and allow the Ghana Police Service to conduct thorough investigations, into the unfortunate killing of the soldier,
“We would like to respectfully remind the President of Ghana, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Minister of Interior, the leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces and other authorities involved in law enforcement in Ghana, that under their international human rights obligations, they must promptly, independently, thoroughly, and effectively investigate this unfortunate incident.”
Amnesty International
According to media reports, a mandate was issued by the Military High Command to deploy military personnel into Ashaiman, to search for the culprits of the crime, which unfortunately led to innocent civilians facing brutality from the military personnel.
Amnesty International, stated that a series of human rights abuses involving but not limited to flogging, restricting free movement of residents and breaking into people’s homes were meted out on persons of the Ashaiman Constituency. To this effect, innocent people have been hurt both physically and psychologically due to this inhumane incident.
This in no way reflects the mandate of the military which clearly states that “The Armed Forces shall be equipped and maintained to perform their role of defence of Ghana, as well as such other functions for the development of Ghana as the President may determine”- 1992 Constitution of Ghana in Article 210 clause (3).
They further reminded GAF, that the Ghana Armed Forces regulations, Armed Forces Act, 1962 Act 105, places obligations on military officers as defenders of the nations. It therefore obliges them, not to interfere with rights of others, more than to the extent unavoidable to pursue the legitimate aim they are following.
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