In the olden days, mostly illiterates and good-for nothing boys were enlisted in the Ghana Arm Forces. Royal families did not allow their children to enlist in the forces because the army was supposed to enlist vagabonds. Family members whose children got enlisted in the Ghana Arm Forces became relieved and happy because a heavy burden was taken away from their shoulders. They were called “Abongo boys” which means ‘Aboa go” in Akan (Beast go).
These “Abongo Boys” did not care a hoot of their precious lives when they found themselves in the army and they were reckless in their actions. During the Second World War, they constituted a great chunk of the West Africa Frontier Force who fought in Burma and other places. Survivors of these wars came back with nothing but their decorated uniforms. The likes of Sergeant Adjetey were not even paid their benefits when they returned from the war fronts. That led to the demonstration in Accra where some of them were mowed down when they decided to protest the bad treatment of the colonial masters. Others could not go home after their courageous performances at the war fronts and found themselves housed in hostels built by the Veteran Association of Ghana (VAG). A few of them are alive today but sick, weak, poor and forgotten by their families. Sad indeed.
The dynamics have changed dramatically. The soldier today particularly the Commission Officers are well educated. Some of them are having doctorate degrees and more. The None Commission Officers (NCO) too have attained some academic laurels and doing extremely well in their endeavors. We used to admire and be proud of our soldiers until the Rawlings’ AFRC and PNDC came to the scene. Military discipline was thrown to the dogs and civilians were used to show their bravery as the soldiers went berserk and treated all of us as second class citizens. The shaving of hairs with broken bottles, slapping and drilling of civilians became the norm and even respected chiefs and individuals were not spared. That was when ‘Soldier Power’ emerged. I was an eyewitness at Kajetia in Kumasi where a soldier who was smoking Indian Hemp drove his bayonet into the protruding stomach of a businessman. The man’s offense? He was rich and suspected to have acquired his wealth illegally. As the man laid dying on the pavement, the drugged soldier shouted for everybody to disperse and we quickly obeyed. That was typical example of ‘Soldier Power’ for you.
With the coming into effect of democratic dispensation in 1992, Ghanaians thought ‘Soldier Power’ will be a thing of the past. Sadly the quasi-military regime of Mr. Rawlings and his NDC continued with this barbaric behavior of unruly soldiers molesting civilians. Our freedom did not last long because the Commandos or 64 Battalion were still lurking in the comer and continued with their barbarism. We prayed to the Almighty God to deliver us from evil and He listened to our prayers when Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor held the reins of power.
Anyone who lived under the quasi-military regime of Rawlings and his NDC would have quickly disbanded the Commandos when he held the reigns of power but meek and mild Kufuor did not do so. He rather literally distributed them among the other barracks for them to continue to contribute their quota to nation building. That was a very serious mistake on the part of the Gentle Giant.
Watching a video clip of the barbaric behavior of soldiers in Wa, I nearly hit my head against the wall out of anger. What is happening in Ghana in this 21st Century? Soldiers drilling civilians again? I saw a soldier lining up civilians in the gutter and slapping them one after the other whiles people looked on. I also saw a police vehicle driving past the scene with about six police men on board without stopping to rescue the poor unarmed civilians who were subjected to inhuman assault. What prompted the madness was that someone had stolen a mobile phone of one of the irresponsible soldiers. A mobile phone? The action taken by the Military High Command has exonerated the government because the opposition NDC is using it to mean the government sanctioned the unruly behavior of the soldiers captured in the video which to me sounds absurd if not illogical.
These people talk of the Commander-In- Chief of the Ghana Arm Forces as if he has to be everywhere at the same time when he has his ministers who have been charged to be in control of their respective ministries. This do not need any Commission of Inquiry or probe. The soldiers can be easily identified.
The top military hierarchy must be congratulated for taking that swift action in this case because a few officers are gradually bringing the name of the military into disrepute. If this type of behavior of soldiers is not nipped in the bud, it could escalate to something else. Civilians who become victims of military brutality may take the law into their hands and do the unthinkable. Can you imagine a situation where a civilian who has wife and children decide to pay a soldier who drilled him back by killing an unarmed wife or child of that soldier? And remember people have arms too. No family of soldiers will be safe in Ghana, particularly those who live among civilians.
As for me, if any soldier slaps me in public for no reason, I will go for his old mother or father to payback. Did the late Kwabena Adjei, the National Chairman of the NDC not tell us that there are many ways of killing a cat? The sins of the children shall visit the parents in this case. If it comes to this limit, it will not arguer well for peaceful co-existence and the situation will be chaotic. We must not let a few bad nuts to spoil the basketful of sweet nuts. The ball is in the court of the minister in charge of defense.
Even though I wished these soldiers were shown the exit gates at the barracks, I am consoled with the punishment slapped on the Staff Sergeant who was demoted to the rank of a corporal. It serves him right. From Staff Sergeant Atinga to Corporal Atinga! Next time when he sees a civilian he will take time to salute the person because it is our taxes which are used to pay, cloth, accommodate and even feed him at the pantry house. In this democratic dispensation, ‘Soldier Power’ has no room. This must be drummed into the empty heads of soldiers who still live under the shadows of the revolutions.
Do you know that Sir Winston Churchill used to smoke eight to ten cigars a day? He even chewed the pieces which in the normal circumstances is thrown into the ash tray. The name of his famous brand of cigar is Cohiba Brown. Poor me! I can only do with my Havana.
By Eric Bawah