Parliament has bared its teeth at the military over the brutality meted out to residents of Wa in the Upper West Region.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin further called on all security agencies to end various forms of assault against civilians.
This was after a committee on defence and interior submitted its report to the House on Wednesday, 1 June 2022, regarding a military brutality incident on 1 July 2021, which was captured on video.
The MPs, with one voice, chastised the military and, by extension, other security services who occasionally violate the rule of law.
Commenting on the report, the Speaker took on the security agencies and added that the House “will no longer tolerate police brutalities in the country. Parliament is the centre of this democracy in Ghana. The concept is very clear. We will be forced to take stringent measures to curb this when it persists.”
Having regard to the concerns raised during the debate on the report, the Speaker further directed the committee to “consider all similar reports of enquiry on brutalities by security officials on civilians from January 1993 to date and report to the House.”
The Speaker further directed the committee to review similar reports by Parliament under the Fourth Republic for the necessary actions.
The Minister said subsequently, on 2 July 2021, a delegation led by the Chief of the Army Staff visited Wa to assess the situation.
The military high command was tasked to collaborate with the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to investigate the matter.
Subsequently, a four-member team made up of Colonel B.Z. Ayorrogo as team leader, Lieutenant Colonel G.B. Eduah, Mr Francis Aboagye and Mr Maxwell Dassah, all from the NIB, were tasked to do the investigation.
He said the interrogated victims reported the loss of 13 mobile phones, a tricycle and an amount of GH¢1,460.
“Seven mobile phones and the tricycle have been retrieved and returned to the owners. No money has yet been retrieved.
“Mr Speaker, notwithstanding the above incident and other incidents, it must be stated clearly that the members of the Ghana military are very disciplined, well-trained and respected across the world for their professionalism,” he said.
He indicated that, subsequently, the 86 culprits were sanctioned.
According to him, except for the duty officer, all the personnel on duty on the day of the incident had been “charged, tried and punished as appropriate”.
He said the Orderly Sergeant, who was a Staff Sergeant, had had his rank reduced to Corporal; the Guard Commander, who was a Corporal, had been reduced to Private, and the Sentry on duty, who was a Lance Corporal, had also been reduced to Private.
Look who’s talking. The speaker is a contradiction of himself. Has he forgotten the brutalities of the founder of the party he belongs to? Should the police stand aloof when been attacked by irate youth .Bagbin should come again.