Victims of Ashaiman military brutality must be compensated – Parliament’s Defence Committee
Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee tasked to investigate the brutalities meted out to residents of Ashaiman following the death of a young soldier has recommended compensation for the victims.
The committee’s report, issued on Friday, January 26, noted that individuals who suffered injuries during the military operation on March 7, 2023, should be promptly and adequately compensated by the state.
Also, individuals whose properties were destroyed during the military swoop will be compensated.
The committee unequivocally condemned the use of excessive force against civilians, expressing its “hate for any form of torturous handling of civilians by the military and other security agencies”.
The committee also called on the leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces to educate personnel on “the legal demands and consequences of such acts”.
They further directed that the soldiers who indulged in the excesses associated with the operation be identified and dealt with per section 32 of the Ghana Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105).
The Act stipulates that “every person in the Armed Forces who behaves in a cruel or disgraceful manner shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to any less punishment provided by this Act”.
Below is the full report.