Ghana’s Minister for National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah, is to appear before Parliament to provide an explanation regarding the alleged military brutality of residents in Garu in the Upper East Region.
A member of parliament’s Interior and Defense Committee, Cletus Avoka, has indicated that the committee is determined to summon the Minister to assertain what triggered that brutality
It comes after a group of military personnel carried out a dawn raid in Garu, during which they reportedly assaulted local residents.
The Ghana Armed Forces have defended the actions of their personnel, stating that the military operation was in response to an attack by irate youth in the area on national security operatives.
The Ministry of National Security, in an official statement, also refuted the claims by the residents, stating that the operation was a joint effort to seize weapons following an October 24 attack by a vigilante group in Garu.
However, Cletus Avoka, the Member of Parliament for Zebilla East, believes it is essential for the national security minister to address the matter before parliament.
“We will endeavour to make a statement on the floor of Parliament. We will request that Speaker Alban Bagbin invite the Minister of National Security, Kan Dapaah, to come and address the House. We will then appeal to the Speaker to establish a committee to investigate this. We had done this in Wa, when soldiers went on a rampage and beat up civilians just because a civilian stole a soldier’s motorbike.
“We went to Wa to investigate it. When soldiers beat up several people in Ashaiman and they made them lay in water and gutters, we went there to investigate; we went to the area and conducted investigations,” he told citinewsroom.com.
Meanwhile, Garu MP, Albert Alalzuuga Akuka, has announced his intention to petition the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the alleged military excesses against his constituents.
He described the actions as brutal and unlawful, demanding an official apology from the military high command for their behaviour.
“On October 28, my residents were abruptly awakened from their beds and subjected to brutal beatings. I’ve been informed that some individuals were in the mosque reciting the Quran at the time, yet they were assaulted under the pretence of retrieving weapons. I spoke with one of the commanders, and he confirmed that they did recover some weapons,” Mr. Akuka stated in a media interview.
He further characterised the military’s actions as savage and called for accountability from those responsible.
Mr Akuka insisted that the incident in Garu was unwarranted and barbaric, and demanded an official apology from the military high command to the people of Garu and all of Ghana.
