Security expert Richard Kumadoe has cautioned civilians against engaging with visibly enraged military personnel, warning that such encounters could escalate dangerously.
Speaking on Joy Prime on Friday, October 31, 2025, Kumadoe addressed the viral CCTV footage showing a military officer assaulting a pharmacy attendant and a female customer at Burma Camp.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, especially after it emerged that the assaulted customer was the daughter of a high-ranking military general.
Kumadoe urged Ghanaians to exercise caution when dealing with military officers, particularly in emotionally charged situations.
“The soldier has a duty of care, and we also have a responsibility to provide customer service within a military zone. These officers understand the consequences of unprofessional behavior, but sometimes they disregard them — and that’s part of their training,” he explained.
“If I were the young lady, even though she had every right to be there and her father holds a senior position in the army, I wouldn’t have engaged with an angry soldier. I would’ve walked away and filed a report indicating that one of the officers might be experiencing emotional or psychological distress, especially after assaulting someone. The ramifications are serious.”
Retired Ghana Air Force officer and Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Patrick Nelson Sogbodjor, also weighed in on the matter. He clarified that while the police may charge the officer with assault, the military would handle the case differently.
“The military cannot charge a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) for assault, that’s a civil matter. However, after internal investigations, the military may charge him for conduct unbecoming of a senior MCO. If found guilty, he could be demoted or summarily dismissed. The police will handle the assault charge, and the military will follow up accordingly, but he cannot be dismissed instantly for assault alone,” Sogbodjor explained.
He also defended the military’s reputation, stating that labeling the institution as undisciplined based on isolated incidents is unfair.
“It’s unfair to tag the military as undisciplined. The men we train are disciplined. What we saw on television was unacceptable, but it reflects an individual’s actions, not the entire force. There will always be exceptions, but the military as an institution upholds discipline.”
