John Dramani Mahama, a former president, has expressed disappointment and regret over the violence that took place in Ashaiman on March 7.
The family of the slain soldier, Sherrif Imoro Trooper, and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) also received condolences from the former GAF commander in chief.
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“I am deeply saddened by the death of one of our soldiers, at such a young age, in Ashaiman. Lordina and I extend our deepest condolences to his bereaved and grieving family, and the officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces,” the former President said in a Facebook post.
Mr. Mahama prayed for the military to hold off on enforcing the law so that due process could be followed. He further urged the soldiers to forgo administering extrajudicial justice to the civilians, pointing out that many residents and employees of Ashaiman are not responsible for this heinous crime.
The previous president also suggested that the military practice restraint.
“As your former Commander in Chief, I do appreciate how such unexpected deaths affect the Force. However, I encourage you to exercise restraint and allow due process to investigate, apprehend, prosecute and punish the perpetrator(s) of the dastardly act. There are obviously many people who live and work in Ashaiman who are innocent of this heinous crime. The military must, therefore, refrain from meting out extra-judicial justice to them,” Mr. Mahama noted.
However, he urged the government to intervene to resolve the conflict between Ashaiman residents and GAF and demanded compensation for all impacted parties.
“I also sympathise with the victims of the torture in Ashaiman as a result of this unfolding death of a serving soldier. I pray we find peace and harmony in our dear country, as the government and state institutions immediately step in to address this potentially inflammatory development between Ashaiman and the Ghana Armed Forces; including providing commensurate compensation for all persons affected,” the former president’s statement noted.
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Following the murder of a military officer, Trooper Sherrif Imoro, who was allegedly stabbed in the town on Saturday, March 4, 2023, military personnel stormed Ashaiman on Tuesday morning, March 7, 2023, with helicopters and armored vehicles to torture civilians.
His murder’s motives are currently unknown.
