Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed condolences to the family of the murdered military officer in Ashaiman, Trooper Sherrif Imoro, as well as the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
“I am deeply saddened by the death of one of our soldiers, at such a young age, in Ashaiman. Lordina and I extend our deepest condolences to his bereaved and grieving family, and the officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces,” the former President said in a Facebook post said.
Military soldiers raided Ashaiman with helicopters and armored vehicles on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, to torture civilians following the murder of a military officer, Trooper Sherrif Imoro, who was reportedly stabbed in the town on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
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The reasons for his murder remain unknown at this time.
The former President urged the military to desist from inflicting extrajudicial punishment on them, noting that many people who live and work in Ashaiman are innocent of this heinous crime.
He also asked the military to display caution and allow due process to take its course.
“As your former Commander in Chief, I do appreciate how such unexpected deaths affect the Force. However, I encourage you to exercise restraint and allow due process to investigate, apprehend, prosecute and punish the perpetrator(s) of the dastardly act. There are obviously many people who live and work in Ashaiman who are innocent of this heinous crime. The military must, therefore, refrain from meting out extra-judicial justice to them,” Mr. Mahama admonished.
He urged the government to intervene in the dispute between Ashaiman locals and GAF, and he demanded compensation for all those harmed.
“I also sympathise with the victims of the torture in Ashaiman as a result of this unfolding death of a serving soldier.
I pray we find peace and harmony in our dear country, as the government and state institutions immediately step in to address this potentially inflammatory development between Ashaiman and the Ghana Armed Forces; including providing commensurate compensation for all persons affected,” the former President suggested.
In a statement, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) justified the brutality, saying that the operation was not to avenge the soldier’s death, but to apprehend the perpetrators of heinous crimes.
GAF announced that the swoop had been approved by its senior command.
The Ghana Armed Forces revealed in a statement that during the operation at Ashaiman-Taifa and Tulaku, military forces picked up roughly 184 individuals aged 21 to 47 and turned them over to the police.
According to GAF, the suspects will be turned over to police for screening and future action.
The MP for the area said 150 persons have so far been released by the military.
SOURCE: CITINEWS
