Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, has reprehended the military’s role in the death of some three young men at Bawku, following the alleged breach of curfew hours.
The lawyer says the military brutalities are becoming too rampant in the country, an act which is an abuse on the rights of the people.
He tells the Ghana Armed Forces if their style was anything commendable, they would have transformed Ghana at the times they took over power in the country.
“You’ve had your turn, you were in charge of government in this country; the 70s and 80s up to 19[92]. What did you do? You think you’re disciplined, I mean come on! The military came they were also very corrupt. Everytime you go, the military –discipline –if it worked, the time we had Acheampong, Akuffo etc, then later Rawlings –if your your military style worked, why didn’t you transform Ghana?
“People were shot for corruption, today is corruption not even worse than what Rawlings came and met?,” he quizzed on the KeyPoints Saturday, January 20, 2024, on TV3.
The soldiers, stationed at Bawku to ensure peace in the community following the renewed clashes between two feuding factions Thursday, January 18, 2024, shot three men to death.
The Ghana Armed Forces, have, however, denied killing the three civilians at Bawku.
In a statement issued Saturday, January 20, the soldiers said the three young men were neutralised for possessing firearms which was a threat to the peace and security of the area, and also firing shots at them.
They say they have regretted the death of the three persons, cautioning the public not to engage them directly since it may have fatal consequences.
But according to Mr. Kpebu, the story being told by the soldiers do not add up since they said the residents fired arms at them first.
“Peoples lives and property are in danger and I’m especially pained that, this is true that the assemblyman came out to beg on behalf of the young men. So the point is that, the assemblyman had to go back to his house so at what point were these people holding guns?
“Because the first story we heard was that these guys shot back at the military and that’s why the military gunned them. People who were arrested, assemblyman came in to intercede for them, the military wouldn’t listen, the assemblyman had to leave, at what point did they go back to get guns and came back to face the military? This thing must stop,” he lamented.
He also cited the recent Ashaiman incident where the military subjected innocent residents to inhumane treatments, to the extent of forcing them to drink poisoned water from gutters as some of the things the military has been doing which is a total disregard for human rights.
“Not too long ago, the military did the same thing, went to Ashaiman, brutalised our citizens, arrested over 184, made citizens to drink water from the gutters, such brazing disregard for human rights,” he condemned.
