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The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has described as false, claims that military personnel deployed to the Volta Region are assaulting and intimidating residents.
Military personnel have been deployed to some border towns across Ghana including the Volta Region which shares border with neighbouring Togo.
Government has stated that the deployment is to secure Ghana’s borders against the importation of COVID-19 due to the illegal entry of foreigners into the country.
But the opposition New Democratic Congress (NDC) is of the view that the presence of the military in the regions known to be NDC strongholds is to intimidate residents to prevent them from registering for the new voters’ ID card.
Already, there have been reports that these security officers are assaulting residents and causing fear among them.
But the Ghana Armed Forces in a statement says “this issue has been investigated, and no soldier has been involved in any such act”.
According to the statement, the soldiers are only there to protect the residents and never to intimidate them, as reports claim.
“We also wish to assure all and sundry that troops will uphold the high standards of professionalism in the performance of their duties. All residents are therefore encouraged to go about their normal duties without any fear or anxiety,” the statement added.
The Armed Forces however pledged that should any security personnel be found culpable of going against the law in line of duty, the person “will be thoroughly investigated and the case dealt with in accordance with GAF Regulations”.
Various stakeholders and individuals have criticised government’s deployment of the military.
Former Ghanaian leaders John Mahama and Jerry John Rawlings have condemned the action.
Opposition MPs in Ghana’s Parliament had earlier been issued a 24hour ultimatum to government to withdraw the troops.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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