Mr. Emmanuel Bombande, a security analyst, has intimated that the military will continue to be indiscipline if things are not made right in the service.
Speaking on the civilian abuse by some military men in Wa, he explained that because the military gets away with immunity, they act unprofessionally. He then called for the Armed force to make things right in terms of civilian abuse.
“In a way I would begin by trying to appreciate and understand the path the military high command is taking in trying to connect with the elders and the community leaders of the people of Wa and to begin to make right what has been violated in terms of the abuse of civilians.”
“I say this because when Ghanaians were horrified to see the military in Techiman South, the military said they were going to investigate and deal with the circumstances that led to the killing of Ghanaians agitating around issues related to elections.”
Emmanuel Bombande
He also called for the military to make public disciplinary actions;taken against officers who abuse civilians and commit offences in their line of work.
“The public has the right to know the internal disciplinary measures they will take;rather than just to say it is going to be internal and;they have taken action against the perpetrators and it ends there. Citizens have the right to know what exactly happened.”
Emmanuel Bombande
Bring back military professionalism
Mr. Bombande also indicated that the military needs to bring back professionalism and discipline in;the operations of the Ghana Armed forces. He said they must also take away the pervasive brutality that has always been an image of the Army.
“And this they need to do comprehensively. They need to reset the roles and make their men and women understand their role as an Armed Force.
“In order for them to do this, they have to interrogate themselves with very important questions. Why is there such an environment that is pervasive of violence and the use of violence each time there is an incident that requires to be taken care of? Why is there a climate that incites people to love using violence particularly professional agencies in trying to resolve issues?”
Emmanuel Bombande
He further averred that in doing this,;the responsibility will be that of both the officers and the individuals making it a collective effort in ensuring that the nation has a military that serves the purpose of deepening and consolidating Ghana’s democratic practice.
GAF to deal with officers involved in Wa violence
The Ghana Armed Force (GAF), has also disclosed that it will deal with its personnel seen in a viral video brutalizing some residents of Wa, the Upper West Regional capital on Thursday, July 1, 2021.
According to GAF in a statement,;it has already initiated investigations into the unprofessional conduct of the officers.
The statement said the unprofessional conduct took place at a time the Commanding Officer of the soldiers and the Chairman of the Regional Security Council, were out of town for an official engagement.
“Internal disciplinary measures have been instituted to deal with all those who will be found culpable in this unprofessional conduct by the soldiers.”
GAF