Parliament has recommended compensations for victims of military brutality in Wa in the Upper West Region following the submission of a report by the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior.
On July 1, 2021, 86 young soldiers of the 10 Mechanized Battalion in Wa stormed Tindama, a suburb of Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region, in search of a colleague’s smart phone which was allegedly stolen.
The young soldiers, in the process, assaulted some members of the community and this went viral on various social media platforms, with the incident triggering total condemnation on popular radio stations across the country.
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior launched an investigation into the alleged acts of brutality and presented its report yesterday, recommending compensations for the victims.
The move followed a request by Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House , who demanded to know the true facts of the alleged maltreatments of civilians by the uniform men in order to establish a proper action against them.
Some soldiers, on Thursday, were said to have subjected some residents of Wa to inhuman treatment after claiming to have had a mobile phone supposedly belonging to one of the military officers stolen.
The victims, who are mostly commercial tricycle operators, were whipped and made to roll on the ground, while others were forced into a nearby gutter.
“We want to know what has happened to Lt. Gyasie. The report says he is being tried. What has happened to the outcome of the trial? We want the Committee to continue to get in touch with the professionals and let us get compensation for the victims,” Speaker Alban Bagin directed.
“They have all been identified, and you see, from the report, I could estimate the kind of injuries, the pain and suffering they went through, including the car washing bay owner (Abdulai Ahmed).”
“This is a democratic country; we are not under military regime. And we as civilian leaders have to bring the security agencies under our control. And this we must do. We approve everything for them and give them a special place in the business of this House.”
“But if they have decided that what we use to fund and pay them will be used to turn against us, I can tell you, they have nowhere to hide in the world. And so please Committee, continue with the investigation and get compensation due to the other people. I am directing that you do so,” the Speaker stated.
Action taken
Already, three soldiers of the 10 Mechanized Battalion in Wa have had their ranks reduced by the Military High Command of the Ghana Armed Forces for subjecting some residents of Tindama, a suburb of Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region to brutalities.
The officers were identified as Duty Sergeant, Ssgt. Sarpong Kwame Adu; Guard Commander, Cpl Obed Torkuebu; and Sentry, Lance Corporal Harrison Aniwe.
Minister of Defence, Dominc Nitiwul, who disclosed this in Parliament yesterday, said seven other soldiers who were deeply involved/visibly identified in various videos brutalizing some residents had been charged, tried and awarded 30 days each in detention by a Disciplinary Board chaired by the Commanding Officer.
They are Privates Joseph Augustine Aboagye Nyamaah, Prince Appiah Aboagye, Godsway Addisu, Bernard Appiah Bonsu, Meshack Osei, Paul Mensah, and Graham Owusu Ampofo.
The remaining soldiers who were involved in the incident were transferred out of the region, charged, tried and slapped with 14 days in detention, include Privates Nyamah Joseph-Austine, Osei Baffour Okyere, Appiah Aboagye Prince, Agyemang Akwasi Jason, Gregory Oxias Tanoe, Ahene Joshua and Akoto Xavier Francis, Frimpong Emmanuel Fobi Daniel and Amoah Owusu Ernest.
The rest are Privates Seidu Abubakari, Agyei Angelo, Nsowaah Anthony, Bawa Kwabena Samuel, Out Mensah Richard, Nyarko Tetteh Emmanuel, Ayisi Ohene Daniel, Oteng Bernard, Baharia Calistus Naah, Adzraku Maxwell, Yeboah Atta Emmanuel Snr., Agyemang Sampene Bernard, Nkunkar Joshua, and Wiredu Kirsky.
The others are Hoenyefia Lawrence Mawuko, Acquaye Obeng Alex, Gyamfi Frimpong Harrison Arhin Philip, Mohammed Wasiuw, Bosompem Abraham, Boadu Emmanuel, Antwi Manu Solomon Opare Eric, Atuahene Bright, Koranteng Seth and many others.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House