Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed condolences to the family of the assassinated military officer in Ashaiman, Sherrif Imoro Trooper, as well as the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
“I am deeply saddened by the death of one of our soldiers, at such a young age, in Ashaiman. Lordina and I extend our deepest condolences to his bereaved and grieving family, and the officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces,” the former President said in a Facebook post said.
Military personnel stormed Ashaiman with helicopters and armoured vehicles on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, to torture civilians following the murder of a military officer, Trooper Sherrif Imoro, who was allegedly stabbed in the town on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
The reasons for his murder are unknown at this time. The former President urged the military to refrain from inflicting extrajudicial punishment on them, noting that many people who live and work in Ashaiman are innocent of this heinous crime. He also advised the military to exercise restraint and allow due process to take its course.
“As your former Commander in Chief, I do appreciate how such unexpected deaths affect the Force. However, I encourage you to exercise restraint and allow due process to investigate, apprehend, prosecute and punish the perpetrator(s) of the dastardly act. There are obviously many people who live and work in Ashaiman who are innocent of this heinous crime. The military must, therefore, refrain from meting out extra-judicial justice to them,” Mr. Mahama admonished.
He urged the government to intervene in the dispute between Ashaiman residents and GAF, and he demanded compensation for all those affected.
“I also sympathise with the victims of the torture in Ashaiman as a result of this unfolding death of a serving soldier.
“I pray for peace and harmony in our dear country as the government and state institutions immediately intervene to address this potentially inflammatory development between Ashaiman and the Ghana Armed Forces, including providing commensurate compensation to all persons affected,” the former President suggested. In a statement, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) justified the brutality, saying that the raid was not to avenge the soldier’s death, but to apprehend the perpetrators of heinous crimes.
GAF announced that the swoop had been approved by its high command.
The Ghana Armed Forces announced in a statement that following the operation at Ashaiman-Taifa and Tulaku, military personnel picked up about 184 suspects aged 21 to 47 and handed them over to the Military Police.
According to GAF, the suspects will be turned over to the police for screening and further action.
According to the local MP, the military has so far released 150 people.
