The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) claim that the raid on Ashaiman on Tuesday was authorized as part of “a man-hunt” for certain criminals who are said to have attacked and killed a young soldier on Saturday (4 March).
Following the murder of trumpeter Sherif Imoro, 21, of the Ghana Armed Forces Band, who was originally assigned to Sunyani in the Bono Region, military soldiers invaded the notorious town early on Tuesday.
Read Full Statement From The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF)
“GAF wishes to state categorically that the military operation, which was sanctioned by the military high command, was NOT to avenge the killing of the soldier but rather to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime,” the statement signed by Brigadier General E Aggrey-Quarshie, GAF spokesperson said.
“Following the operations at Ashaiman-Taifa and Tulaku, the military personnel picked up about 184 suspects aged between 21 and 47 years old and have since handed them over to the Military Police and subsequently to be sent to the Ghana Police Service for screening and for further action.
“During the course of the swoop, the personnel seized 29 slabs and 57 mini slabs of suspected Indian hemp and amnesia among other forms of the narcotics,” the statement said.
It added: “The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) also wishes to place on record that the swoop was not targeted at innocent civilians but was an intelligence–led operation conducted on suspected hideouts of criminals and crime-prone areas in the general area. GAF however acknowledges that regrettably some innocent persons might have been caught up in the operation and consequently suffered some distress due to the location they found themselves at the time.
“GAF accordingly wishes to urge the general public to provide useful information, support the security agencies in weeding out criminals and miscreants from our communities and to desist from shielding and conniving with such suspects in order to the curb criminal activities in the country.”
Source: Richard Obeng Bediako ll Metrotvonline.com ll Ghana
