Increasing Military Brutalities in Ghana is threatening the lives and safety of My People – MP for Bibiani

 

Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bibiani-Antiwiaso-Bekwai constituency in the Western Region, Alfred Obeng Boateng, has indicated that his-constituents, especially those in Bibiani Zongo and Old Town no longer feel safe because of persistent military brutalities.

“Rt. Hon. Speaker, I am sad that I have to bring to the attention of this August House that the people of Bibiani-Antiwiaso-Bekwai constituency no longer feel safe because of persistent military brutalities in these two communities,” the MP stated in a statement on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday.

He said it is a clear violation of the rights to life of his constituents as provided for under Article 13(1) of the 1992 constitution of Ghana.

Hon. Obeng-Boateng said after Asante Gold took over Bibiani Gold mines from Mensia Gold Bibiani Limited, the military stationed there has been constantly brutalizing the people in the communities for apparently no reason.

He indicated that in October 2022, armed officers went to Old Town community looking for a boy they claimed had taken some waste materials dumped nearby, and when the residents questioned their movements in the community which was scary, they started asssulting them to the extent that one Fuseini Issah was shot three times in the leg rendering him permanently paralyzed.

Again, a few weeks ago, one Jakit Pillar a native of Bibiani Zongo had his motorbike broken down on the road, while trying to fix it the military came across the scene and started beating him, leaving him severely wounded.

Hon. Obeng-Boateng stated that what necessitated his statement is the third incident which occurred on Sunday, February 5, 2023. According to him, some military men brutalized some inhabitants of Bibiani Zongo, leaving five of them severely wounded, and on admission at different hospitals including the Bibiani Government Hospital.

According to the MP, one of them, Aziz Karim was shot in his private part, wondering if he could ever recover again. The MP stated further that the Assemblyman, Abdellah Adams, who tried to intervene, ended up being beaten and severely injured with a third person receiving several bullets in the leg.

While wondering if the military had lost their sense of professionalism thinking that they are on the battle field, Hon. Obeng-Boateng appealed to the Minister of Defence to call his men to order. He also called for a thorough investigation into the matter and punishment to the culturists accordingly, Also appropriate compensation should be given to victims of these unwarranted military brutalities.

Military Shoot and Kill Civilians in Bawku

In another development, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku central painted a gloomy situation of how the Military stationed there to maintain law and order and protect life and property had turned the other way round. According to him the military stationed at Bawku had rather taken sides in the conflict there and killing people indiscriminately.

Terming it “Military Executions,” Hon. Ayariga told a chilling story of how the military had shot and killed at least 10 people in a particular valley which had become the shooting grounds for what he described as “Victims of Military brutalities and executions”.

This valley, Hon. Ayariga stated, was near the Sanguri Primary school and houses a number of dry season gardens.

“Six other persons were sincerely shot and killed in the valley in military style execution within the view of eye witnesses. Four of them were apprehended in the valley and after their hands were tired to their backs, the men in Ghana Armed Forces uniforms took turns shooting them one after the other as they cried out loud and asked for mercy. I saw with my naked eyes the blood of these helpless victims of the men who are supposed to protect them,” Hon. Ayariga revealed.

According to him, the valley contains a lot of mango trees. So some of the frightened people took refuge there to escape the military executions. However, they heard some shots from the military and they came to him to give eye-witness account of all that transpired during these military executions.

The executed six people, he said included, Akudugu Bugnaba Karim (31), Abunbiana Madi (33), Kassim Issah (33), Haruna Kudus (17) and Ayuma Eliasu (37).

The MP also told the House, how a 12year old boy, Jafaru, witnessing the gruesome murder of his father took to his heels, but chased by the military and shot dead and burnt, after he had fallen into a barn into which the military shot.

He also told the House how Jafaru’s mother, in an attempt to rescue her son was shot in the arm to incapacitate her.

On his part, Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul maintains that Bawku is awash with assault and offensive weapons. Subsequently, if government does not deal solidly with it, the unexpected can happen, stating that this is how Nigeria issues started.

He indicated that prior to that incident, there were gun shots for 10hrs the previous night in Bawku. He was of the view that the Ghana Armed Forces with their training and professionalism, would not go the way the MP was alleging. He opined that by these allegations, the integrity of the institution was being shredded into pieces.

The Minister was however quick to point out that the case was before the police for investigation. Nevertheless, he expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

By S. O. Ankamah