Soldiers seen in a viral video captured in the Upper West Region capital of Wa meting out brutalities on civilians on the streets will be severely punished, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has said.
It was not officially known why the military officers were on rampage Thursday afternoon but an eye witness told 3news.com that they were searching for a missing mobile phone, belonging to one of them who had boarded what is popularly known as ‘Yellow Yellow’ or ‘Mahama Camboo’.
A press release issued by GAF on Friday, July 2 said the “unprofessional” conduct took place at a time the Commanding Officer and the Chairman of the Regional Security Council were out of town on official engagements.
“Internal disciplinary measures have been instituted to deal with all those who will be found culpable in this unprofessional conduct by the soldiers.
“In view of the seriousness of the matter, the Chief of the Army Staff is leading a high powered military delegation to Wa to meet the traditional and opinion leaders to find an amicable way of resolving this unfortunate incident.”
The delegation is also expected to explore means to assuage the anger of the people and promote good neighbourliness.
GAF assured the people of Wa and, indeed, all Ghanaians that “their safety is paramount at all times, as such would not condone any unprofessional conduct by any member of the force”.
A viral video on social media on Thursday, July 1, 2021, showed armed military officers brutalizing some residents of Wa, the Upper West Regional capital, allegedly over a missing mobile phone.
This comes barely a week after soldiers opened fire on protesters at Ejura in the Ashanti Region, leading to the death of two people and injuries to four others.
Some eyewitnesses who spoke to Citi News said the soldiers claimed they were searching for their stolen mobile phone.
They recounted how the officers who could not be immediately identified, stopped tricycles and brutalized particularly young men.
The Public Relations Officer of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, Cletus Awuni was also beaten by the officers.
