Pressure Group, OccupyGhana, has condemned the attack on some protesting youth in Ejura by soldiers on Tuesday, which has resulted in the death of two persons and left four others severely injured.
In a press statement on Wednesday, it recounted some civil protests in the country which turned deadly due to the presence of the military, although the personnel were deployed to de-escalate the riots.
“The deployment of the military and deadly force led to the Kume Preko killings and Techiman South killings. To the best of our knowledge, no one was punished for those killings. In contrast, the non-deployment of the military during the Occupy Flagstaff House demonstration meant that although the police wrongfully arrested some protesters, no one was shot or maimed.”
The group noted that, the use of deadly force to control crowds should be the last thing that any government would authorise following the numerous casualties recorded over the years.
“Soldiers are built and trained for war. The presence of the military in any civil event could turn that location into a potential war zone, where one side has all the firepower purchased for them by the citizens, and the citizens are at the receiving end of the force. This is why it is the civil Police that should lead out in all matters involving the interior,” part of statement read.
OccupyGhana further called on Parliament to deliberate on a bill that would regulate the military’s involvement in matters concerning interior security.
“That law must provide for military activation only when irrefutable evidence shows national police personnel will be overwhelmed by an escalating event. That law must also provide for a full scale judicial inquiry into each such activation, whatever the results are, reports published and punishments meted to those who flout the law and cause needless deaths.”
On Tuesday, two persons were shot dead, while four others sustained gun injuries after some protesting youth of Ejura Sekyedumase clashed with Military and Police personnel.
Since the death of the 40-year-old Ibrahim Mohammed, aka Kaaka, the youth say they are willing to sacrifice their lives to get justice for him.
The youth stormed the Police station to inquire about the extent of investigation into the murder of their colleague. They stressed that they want the Police to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to book.
Although the Police told them that two persons have been arrested in connection with the crime, the agitated protestors said it was just a façade.
Pressing home their demand for justice, the youth hit the streets and were met by the Military and Police personnel.
Initially, the Military started shooting into the sky but at some point, when the protesters charged, they started shooting into the crowd.
Resulting in some new casualties.
Occupy Ghana has commiserated with the families of the deceased, adding that, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them.”
