The GaDangme Council strongly condemns the use of live ammunition by the Navy during the traditional festival and calls for a thorough investigation into the incident.
According to the Council, those responsible for the deaths of the two youth be held accountable and brought to justice.
The GaDangme Council vehemently condemns the heavy-handedness displayed by the Navy and urges reforms within the security forces to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
It said this represents a grave violation of human rights and an abuse of power, insisting that justice must be served, and those responsible for the tragic deaths of the two youth must be held accountable.
The Kplejoo Festival, a long-standing tradition of the Ga-Dangme Community in Tema, attracts a vibrant influx of youthful energy onto the streets.
The incident has sparked outrage and concern among the public, especially within the Tema Traditional Area.
In a statement signed by Joseph Ayikoi Otoo,
President, GaDangme Council said the military’s role should be to support and defend the citizens, not to harm or kill them.
“The indiscriminate use of live ammunition in a densely populated public space reveals a lack of restraint and a disregard for the safety and well-being of the people. This unfortunate incident further sheds light on a systemic issue of impunity and lack of accountability within the security forces.
“Notably, in 2023, two fishermen lost their lives during a customary Homowo Festival fishing expedition that had been approved by the Tema Traditional Council. Reportedly, a Ghana Navy patrol speedboat collided with the canoe without warning, resulting in fatalities. At that time, the Tema Traditional Council expressed disappointment and called for improved conduct from officers, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigations and accountability. Regrettably, a sense of impunity seems to have prevailed.”
The GaDangme Council deems it crucial to decry such blatant human rights violations and to demand accountability from the authorities responsible for these reprehensible actions, saying that the tragic deaths of the two youth during the traditional festival underscores the urgent need for reforms within the military and security forces.
To prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future, the Council suggested that it is imperative to establish proper training, oversight, and accountability mechanisms. The Navy must be held to a higher standard of conduct and be held accountable for their actions.
Read the full statement below:
Statement Of GaDangme Council Condemning The Use of Live Ammunition During This Year’s Kpejoo Festival of The People of Tema Resulting in Deaths
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The GaDangme Council has received the shocking news that the Ghana
Navy allegedly used live ammunition to control crowd resulting in the tragic deaths of two youth during this year’s Kplejoo Festival which is a long-standing tradition of the Ga-Dangme Community in Tema during which a lot of youthful energy is brought onto the streets.The incident has ignited outrage and concern among the public particularly the people of the Tema Traditional Area.
It is the view of the GaDangme Council that the use of live ammunition by the military during a traditional festival is a gross violation of human rights and an abuse of power.The military’s role is to complement the police to protect and defend the citizens, not to harm or kill them.
The indiscriminate use of live ammunition in a crowded public space demonstrates a lack of restraint and disregard for the safety and well-being of the people.
Furthermore, the use of excessive force by the military reflects a systemic issue of impunity and lack of accountability within the security forces. The culture of impunity enables such abuses of power to go unchecked and perpetuates a cycle of violence and injustice.
It would be recalled that in 2023 two fishermen lost their lives during a customary Homowo festival fishing duly sanctioned by the Tema Traditional Council. The Ghana Navy patrol speedboat allegedly crashed into the canoe without warning resulting in fatalities.
On that occasion the Tema Traditional Council expressed disappointment and called for better conduct from officers, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation and accountability but alas the impunity has repeated itself.
The GaDangme Council considers it
essential to speak out against such flagrant violations of human rights and demand accountability from the authorities responsible for these actions.
Moreover, the tragic deaths of the two youth during the traditional festival highlight the urgent need for reforms in the military and security forces.
Proper training, oversight, and accountability mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that such incidents do not occur again in the future. The Navy must be held to a higher standard of conduct and must be held accountable for their actions.
Consequently, the GaDangme Council condemns in the strongest terms the use of live ammunition by the Navy during the traditional festival and calls for a thorough investigation into the incident.The GaDangme Council demands that those responsible for the deaths of the two youth be held accountable and brought to justice.
The GaDangme Council
condemns the high-handedness
of the Navy and calls for reforms within the security forces to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Justice must be served, and those responsible for the tragic deaths of the two youth must be held accountable.
Sgd
Hon J.Ayikoi Otoo
President
GaDangme Council
By Vincent Kubi