The Suame District Court has remanded seven military officers and a civilian employee from the 4th Infantry Battalion (4Bn) into custody over their alleged involvement in the assault and subsequent death of two civilians.
The accused, facing charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, include Lieutenant Selim Nikoi Neequaye, Lieutenant Emmanuel Abrokwa, Lieutenant Daniel Osae, Sergeant Kumi Edmond, Lance Corporal Ameyaw Desmond, Private Ampah Felix, Private Gyekye, and Thomas Adjei Mensah, a civilian employee.
According to prosecution, the officers allegedly arrested and assaulted three civilians — Kwame Adu, popularly known as Ogee, Kwabena Sarfo, and Christian Obiri Yeboah, also called Kofi Yesu — on March 28, 2025. The men were reportedly rounded up by uniformed military officers at Bantama in Kumasi over accusations of stealing a mobile phone belonging to another civilian.
The arrested individuals were taken to the 4Bn barracks, where the alleged assaults occurred. Subsequently, the bodies of two of the victims were discovered at Danyame, a suburb of Kumasi, sparking public outrage and demands for justice.
The military officers and the civilian worker have been formally charged and will remain in custody as investigations continue. The case has been adjourned to allow for further investigations.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about human rights abuses and the need for accountability within Ghana’s security agencies.
Journalists Dokurugu Alhassan and Tahiru Ibrahim were ruthlessly attacked by military personnel in Walewale, located in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region.
The assault occurred in the aftermath of a bus fire, which the journalists had gone to cover. Upon reaching the scene, they witnessed soldiers indiscriminately assaulting civilians, including travelers. Despite seeking shelter with the police, they were ambushed and severely beaten at Nalerigu Junction as they made their way back.
The military officers demanded their identification, which was promptly presented. However, the soldiers questioned why they were not carrying cameras to verify their profession. Ignoring the credentials, they subjected the journalists to a brutal beating using wire cables and other hard objects, leaving them with serious injuries.
Disturbingly, the military later advised them to wear reflective vests in the future for easy identification, disregarding the legitimacy of their official ID cards.
The journalists have since obtained a police medical report, but law enforcement officials claim they are unable to intervene, citing the military’s involvement in the incident.
This marks the second time soldiers have unleashed violence on civilians in Walewale without providing any justification. Both journalists and some affected residents are currently undergoing medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has yet to issue a statement condemning the military’s actions.
Former Defense Minister and Bimbilla MP, Dominic Nitiwul, has accused the government of deploying military personnel to intimidate him and other citizens, raising fresh concerns about the growing militarization of Ghana’s political landscape.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, February 12, Nitiwul claimed that armed soldiers had been tracking his movements, a development he described as undemocratic.
“They are using soldiers to intimidate Ghanaians, including myself, and that is not democracy,” he asserted.
His remarks follow a controversial military operation at the residence of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, an incident that has sparked widespread criticism and accusations of political persecution.
During the raid, heavily armed soldiers stormed Ofori-Atta’s home, prompting fears that state security forces are being weaponized against political figures perceived as threats.
The government has yet to comment on either incident.
The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona, has urged the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to maintain neutrality and professionalism, cautioning soldiers against being swayed by political influence as the country approaches the December 2024 general elections.
He emphasized the importance of military personnel remaining professional and refraining from engaging in partisan politics during this critical period. Addressing the army’s role in maintaining peace during the elections, Major General Onwona reaffirmed the military’s commitment to upholding its professionalism.
He called on all officers to stay focused on their duties to ensure a peaceful and orderly electoral process, assuring Ghanaians of the army’s readiness to safeguard the country during the elections.
In his speech, Major General Onwona also appealed to the media to act responsibly, urging them to avoid spreading misinformation and disinformation. He warned that inaccurate reporting could threaten the nation’s peace and stability, particularly during this sensitive election period.
“I am not singling out any group of people. What I mean is that they should not allow themselves to be influenced by anybody; their politicians, members of the media fraternity, or people in the business community,” he stated.
“We are not politicians; our role is to defend the Constitution. So, I am referring to everybody and anybody who has the intention of influencing any member of the Armed Forces negatively,” he added.
The Army Chief made these remarks during the commissioning of a new accommodation facility for officers at the Central Command in Kumasi. The project, aimed at improving the living conditions of army personnel, was overseen by Brigadier General Michael Kwadwo Opoku, the General Officer Commanding the Central Command.
The newly commissioned facility is expected to enhance the welfare of military personnel stationed in the region as the army prepares to support the nation’s efforts in ensuring a successful and peaceful election in December.
He believes that these cameras will document every action and interaction of the soldiers during operations, thereby minimizing the risk of them being influenced or compromised by illegal miners, known as galamseyers.
While acknowledging the essential role of the military in addressing this issue, Dr. Asante Okyere emphasized that the potential for soldiers to be swayed cannot be overlooked.
“Fix body cams on the soldiers, so that everything will be recorded at a centralized point to prevent the soldiers from being compromised,” he said on the Big Issue on TV3 Friday, October 11.
Retired Colonel Festus Aboagye, a security expert, has criticized the government’s strategy of deploying military personnel to combat illegal small-scale mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
He labeled this approach, along with the destruction of illegal mining equipment like chanfans, as a shortsighted solution to a pressing national security issue.
Aboagye questioned the long-term viability of relying on military force in addressing this challenge.
His remarks came in response to the recent actions taken under the government’s “Operation Halt” initiative, which saw soldiers destroy 18 chanfans, 10 industrial water pumping machines, and one excavator across various illegal mining sites in Ghana. This initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to tackle the galamsey crisis.
In light of ongoing illegal mining activities, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has instructed the Minister of Defence to reinforce military presence to strengthen Operation Halt.
Additionally, the President has ordered the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to immediately suspend the enforcement of L.I. 2462, which regulates mining in forest reserves.
These actions follow a meeting with Organised Labour on October 8, during which the group threatened a nationwide strike on October 10 if the government did not take decisive measures against illegal mining. In a statement released on October 9, the Office of the Presidency outlined several steps to address the concerns raised by Organised Labour.
International journalist Kent Mensah has raised questions about the whereabouts of the 200 soldiers deployed by the government in 2021 to safeguard the nation’s water bodies from the threat of illegal mining, known as galamsey.
Mr. Mensah, a contributor to AFP, Al Jazeera, and Voice of America (VOA), made his remarks amid the country’s ongoing struggle with the destructive effects of galamsey.
He expressed his curiosity about the fate of those soldiers, noting that the current situation suggests they have not fulfilled their mandate.
“What happened to the soldiers? In 2021, the Defence Minister announced that 200 soldiers had been deployed to protect our water bodies from illegal mining (galamsey). So what became of that effort? Did the soldiers fail, or were they simply overwhelmed by the scale of the problem?” Mensah wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday, 8th October 2024.
He further questioned the prevailing narrative that tends to hold other security agencies, such as the police, responsible for failing to controlgalamsey. Mensah argued that attention should instead be directed at the military, which was specifically tasked and resourced to spearhead the battle against illegal mining.
“We deserve answers. Blaming the police and other security agencies in this fight feels misplaced when the military, with all the state resources and backing, was tasked with protecting our water. If even the military couldn’t succeed in this mission, it signals a much larger issue at hand,” he added.
In 2021, Ghana’s Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, revealed the deployment of 200 soldiers to protect the nation’s water bodies from illegal mining activities. Nitiwul had promised the public that the initiative would focus on key rivers and forest reserves in regions heavily affected by galamsey.
“This operation will be conducted on all major rivers and forest reserves in all galamsey-endemic regions throughout the country to rid them of illegal mining activities. There will be aerial patrols at places where the Ghana Armed Forces has also swept past. Armed men would be authorised to take immediate action on anyone who returns to these river bodies to engage in galamsey activities,” Nitiwul had said at the time.
Despite these actions, the degradation of water bodies remains a major concern in Ghana. Mensah’s remarks echo the increasing public dissatisfaction with the seemingly ineffective government efforts to tackle galamsey.
“Our future depends on the protection of our natural resources, and we cannot afford to let this go unanswered,” Mensah concluded.
His comments come at a time of intense public outrage over the persistent environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, with many Ghanaians calling for more accountability and transparency in the fight against galamsey. As scrutiny on the military and other security agencies mounts, the pressing question is: what went wrong in the efforts to safeguard Ghana’s water bodies, and how can the nation recover from this ecological disaster?
Aljazeera reporter Kent Mensah has questioned the Ghanaian government over the fate of the soldiers deployed in 2021 to protect the country’s water bodies from illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
Despite the deployment of 200 soldiers, announced by Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul, the galamsey menace remains largely unresolved.
In a Facebook post on October 8, 2024, Mensah expressed his concerns, asking, “What happened to the soldiers? In 2021, the Defense Minister announced that 200 soldiers had been deployed to protect our water bodies from illegal mining (galamsey). So what became of that effort? Did the soldiers fail, or were they simply overwhelmed by the scale of the problem?”
Mensah, a journalist with AFP, Aljazeera, and VOA, argued that the military had received state backing and significant resources for the task, yet the illegal mining crisis persists. He emphasized that it is unfair to blame other security agencies like the police when the military had been entrusted with primary responsibility.
“We deserve answers. Blaming the police and other security agencies in this fight feels misplaced when the military, with all the state resources and backing, was tasked with protecting our water. If even the military couldn’t succeed in this mission, it signals a much larger issue at hand,” he added.
Reports emerging from Bole in the Savannah Region suggest that soldiers sent to a galamsey area have allegedly brutalised the Vice Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yakubu Mahama.
The incident is linked to the deployment of soldiers purportedly to protect Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining activities in the region.
The altercation began when Yakubu Mahama reportedly sought a meeting with the leader of the military team. Tensions escalated into a scuffle between the soldiers and the NPP Vice Regional Chairman.
According to Citinewsroom, witnesses reported that the situation worsened when Mahama’s brother called the NPP Secretary for Bole-Bamboi. The secretary arrived at the Bole Police Station accompanied by a group of young men, which reportedly intensified the conflict.
According to sources, the soldiers responded with gunfire and allegedly assaulted the NPP Vice Regional Chairman during the confrontation. Mahama’s brother issued a stern warning to the soldiers, asserting that such actions would not be tolerated.
Further details regarding the incident remain unclear, and calls for an investigation into the actions of the soldiers have been made.
The involvement of Chinese nationals in illegal mining continues to be a contentious issue, with accusations of complicity and protection by certain military personnel.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly condemned the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for their response to a viral video involving Ernest Frimpong, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary hopeful, inciting attacks against soldiers patrolling illegal mining sites.
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced showing Frimpong advising individuals, believed to be illegal miners, to resist military officers. Following the video’s release, a soldier was reportedly attacked, raising concerns about the security and stability of such patrols.
In its response, the GAF issued a statement urging the public to refrain from attacking soldiers. However, the NDC found this response insufficient, expecting a more direct condemnation of Frimpong’s actions. The party’s press release questioned the integrity of the GAF, suggesting that its stance may have been influenced by political affiliations.
“Unless the GAF, once the most disciplined and revered institution in Ghana, has become compromised along political lines, one wonders why Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie (Director General, Public Relations) would conceal the detail of calling out the person(s) in the viral video and warning them directly instead of displaying cowardice by cautioning the general public,” the NDC stated.
The NDC warned that the Armed Forces risk losing public respect and could endanger the nation’s security if such incidents continue unchecked.
The party emphasized the need for the GAF to address threats at their source and report them to relevant authorities, such as the police, to prevent tragedies like the Major Mahama incident.
“Rather than spending time cautioning the general public in your five-paragraph release on information they already know, be bold, confident, courageous, and assertively stern in calling out and cautioning Mr. Ernest Frimpong. He called for the attacks on your men, not the general public,” the NDC added.
The party also urged the GAF to demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law by lodging a formal report with the police if it has not already done so.
With the upcoming elections, the NDC stressed the importance of addressing such red flags to prevent civilian-military confrontations and promote peace and unity.
In response to the controversy, Ernest Frimpong retracted his comments, asserting that they were taken out of context. He admitted to being the person in the video but denied engaging with illegal miners, claiming he was addressing miners within the community.
The GAF, in its statement, reiterated that calls to attack soldiers are unlawful and pose significant risks to security. The release also highlighted that soldiers have the right to self-defense, warning that those who choose to attack military personnel may end up harming themselves.
Media personality Bridget Otoo has taken on the Ghana Armed Forces for what she believes to be a political response to calls for attacks on military personnel sighted at mining sites.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has issued a stern warning to the public in response to the spread of viral videos on social media that promote attacks on soldiers and other security personnel.
In a viral video, Frimpong is seen addressing a group, presumably illegal miners, encouraging them to resist military officers who are patrolling the area and trying to evict them.
He stated that no military personnel had been authorized to manage the mining sites at this time and urged miners to defend themselves if necessary.
Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, who also heads the region’s Security Council, was also present at the forum.
In response, GAF highlighted that such actions are illegal and pose a significant threat to national security and stability.
GAF warned that the repercussions of such confrontations could be severe, stressing the importance of avoiding such incidents.
They reiterated that assaulting or attacking soldiers is a serious crime punishable by law and urged all citizens to respect, cooperate with, and support the Armed Forces.
Reacting to this, Bridget Otoo questioned the GAF for not explicitly calling out Ernest Frimpong, but rather treating the matter with a general view.
She believes that the GAF failed to do so because Mr Frimpong is a member of the ruling party.
“You are spineless! Call out the person and leave the public out! You’ve lost your denture because it is an NPP person who called for assault on soldiers!
“If it is Ashaiman, you would have been there with 5,000 brawn !!!,” she wrote in a post on X.
The GAF statement called for public cooperation to avoid engaging in or promoting violence against soldiers.
The Ghana Armed Forces reaffirmed their commitment to professionalism, integrity, and service to the nation. They emphasized their cooperation with other security agencies to safeguard Ghana’s interests while respecting citizens’ rights and dignity.
GAF encouraged the public to voice their concerns or grievances through the Department of Public Relations, maintaining an open-door policy for addressing issues constructively.
You are spineless! Call out the person and leave the public out! You’ve lost your denture because it is an NPP person who called for assault on soldiers!
Senior Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, has stated that any politician who supports illegal mining, given its devastating impact on the country’s natural resources, should be condemned.
His remarks come in response to the New Patriotic Party’s parliamentary candidate for Amenfi East, Ernest Frimpong, who urged illegal miners to confront soldiers attempting to stop their activities.
In a widely circulated video, Mr Frimpong is seen advising a group of alleged illegal miners to resist military officers patrolling the area and trying to evict them, emphasizing that no military personnel had been authorized to manage the sites and encouraging miners to defend themselves if necessary.
Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, who also heads the region’s Security Council, was also present at the forum.
Discussing the issue on the JoyNews AM Show, Dr. Asah-Asante emphasized that such individuals should not be permitted to hold public office.
“Look at the effect of galamsey on the production of food, on the production of cocoa and then on health. Look at the consequences that we have from these illegal activities and what even the country has not turned its attention to; the issue with our neighbors.
“How we pollute their water bodies and sooner than later they are going to take us on. Look at the kidney problems that we have, which a lot have been attributed to the fact that we have poisonous substances in our waterbodies.
“So for somebody who is holding a political office to urge people along this negative path, I believe it is a wrong move. These type of people should not be encouraged to hold public office because all they want is to have political power and it doesn’t matter how society survives or not”.
He also urged security agencies to detain the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for questioning to deter others from inciting the public against police and military personnel while they perform their duties.
“If that is what the man is saying, then I think the security people must talk to him’, he stressed.
Mr. Ernest Frimpong has clarified suggestions that he encouraged illegal miners to persist in their activities and defend themselves against military personnel in the area.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Sunday, June 9, Mr. Frimpong confirmed that he was the person in the video but denied interacting with illegal miners, explaining that he was addressing miners in the community.
“I am saying that if the people in uniform can go to the length of engaging civilians in a business to torment miners who are legally working, then, they should be exposed because once you do that, you are deviating from what you are supposed to do,” he said.
He also alleged that legal miners are attacked, extorted, and have their equipment destroyed by individuals linked to the NDC who have connections in the security service. He stated that this is done to create dissatisfaction with the government, which is why he gave the advice.
The soldiers were attacked on Thursday at a checkpoint in Aba town in Abia state. The separatists were enforcing a lockdown to remember the Republic of Biafra, which fought a war in 1967 to become independent from Nigeria.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wants to create their own country in the southeast. They use lockdowns to try to make this happen, even though many people died in a war in the past. Many people have been killed in violent lockdowns and attacks by a group that says it wants to peacefully break away from the country.
The Nigerian army sent soldiers to keep peace in Aba town, but the militants unexpectedly attacked their security outpost. “Buba said that six innocent people were also killed in the fighting. ”
The IPOB group is asking for their leader Nnamdi Kanu to be released from jail. He is facing charges of treason and terrorism.
The southeast of Nigeria used to be very safe, but now it has violence and more people are becoming poor because of the lockdowns that are hurting the economy.
Guards tried to keep reporters away from the place in Kompong Speu province.
Hun Manet wrote on Facebook on Saturday that he was very surprised when he heard about the explosion in Chbar Mon district. It wasn’t clear right away what caused it.
A person who lives in a nearby village told The Associated Press on Sunday that they shook with fear when they heard the blast because they had never heard such a loud explosion before.
Chim Sothea said, “I was repairing my house with some builders when the explosion happened. ” All of a sudden, there was a big boom and it made my house shake. It also broke some tiles on my roof. They tripped but thankfully they didn’t fall into the house.
Pictures from the area showed many buildings in bad shape, some with their roofs missing. Also, soldiers were getting help at a hospital. Other pictures showed houses nearby with holes in their roofs.
Four buildings were destroyed, three were for storing things and one was a place to work. Some military vehicles were also damaged. ColYoueng Sokhon, a soldier at the site, told the army chief Gen. in a short report. Mao Sophan shared something on the internet. He also said that 25 houses of the villagers were damaged. Pictures of the base showed the broken buildings in a big empty space, with no houses nearby.
Another person from the village, who didn’t want to share their name, said they heard a loud noise and saw smoke coming from the army base, so they knew there had been an explosion at the weapons store. Then he quickly ran home from the little store where he sells food and drinks to be safe inside with his wife and two kids.
He said the army quickly blocked the road to the base and the people in the village were scared and looking for a safe place. So, he took his family to his parent’s house, which was farther from the base. When he got back home, he saw that his house was okay, but the other people in the village had broken windows, doors, and roofs.
Cambodia, along with many other countries in the area, has been having really hot weather. The province where the explosion happened had a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday. High temperatures can’t make ammunition explode, but they can make explosives less stable over time. This means there is a risk that a small explosion could start a fire and make other explosives explode too.
Kiripost, an online news service in English, reported that a villager named Pheng Kimneang said there was a big explosion around 2:30 p. m, and then more smaller explosions for about an hour.
In March 2005, there was a big explosion at a place where weapons were stored in the town of Battambang. The explosion went on for hours, and at least six people died. It scared the people who lived nearby.
A report in 2014 from the group Small Arms Survey in Switzerland said that storing and handling weapons and explosives badly is a big problem all over the world. It also said that between 2013 and 2019, there were over 500 accidents where weapons and explosives exploded unexpectedly.
“One accident at a weapons site can hurt or kill a lot of people and force many to leave their homes,” it said. “The infrastructure can be damaged over a large area, covering many square kilometers. ” Moreover, the economic impact can be very big, causing millions of dollars in losses and affecting people’s lives and the environment for a long time.
Hun Manet expressed sorrow for the soldiers’ families and said the government will pay for their funerals and give money to the families of those who were hurt or killed.
He graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point. Before becoming prime minister last year, he was in charge of the army. He took over as prime minister from his father, Hun Sen, who was the leader of Cambodia for 38 years.
WUS Ambassador is a person who represents the United States government in another country. Patrick Murphy, on the social media site X, said he was sorry for the families of the soldiers hurt in the explosion.
No one has said why there was an explosion at the base in Kompong Speu province on Saturday afternoon. It doesn’t seem like it was on purpose.
Defense Minister Tea Seiha, who was in place of Prime Minister Hun Manet, led the Buddhist funeral ceremony. The event was attended by the victims’ family members and other soldiers. Cambodian flags were on top of the wooden boxes.
A person who lives nearby said to The Associated Press on Sunday that he shook with fear when he heard the big blast because he had never heard such a loud explosion before.
Chim Sothea said, “I was repairing my house with some builders when the explosion happened. ” “All of a sudden, there was a big boom that made my house shake and broke some tiles on my roof. ” “They fell, but they didn’t fall into the house. ”
Pictures showed many buildings that were severely damaged at the base. One building had its roof blown off, and soldiers were being treated in a hospital. Other pictures showed houses nearby that had holes in their roofs.
Another person from the village, who didn’t want to share their name, said the soldiers blocked the road to the base and the villagers were scared and looking for a safe place. He took his family to his parents’ house, which is further away from the base. When he came back home after a few hours, he saw that his house was okay, but other people in the village had broken windows, doors, and roofs.
Cambodia, along with other nearby countries, has been experiencing very hot weather for a long time. The province where the explosion happened had a high temperature of 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday. High temperatures can’t make ammunition explode, but they can make explosives less stable over time. This could lead to a small explosion causing a fire and more explosions.
In March 2005, there was a big explosion at a weapons storage in a small town called Battambang. Many shells and bullets were fired, and at least six people died. People in the town were very scared.
A report in 2014 by a group called Small Arms Survey said it is dangerous when weapons and explosives are not stored or handled properly. They said this is a problem all around the world. The report also said that between 1979 and 2013, there were over 500 times when weapons and explosives accidentally exploded at storage sites.
The Nigerian army has pledged retaliation for the deaths of six soldiers who were ambushed during a peace mission in Niger’s central state last week.
The soldiers were conducting a “fighting patrol” in Karaga village, Shiroro area, when they were attacked by what the army described as “terrorists”.
An army statement reported the killing of several attackers and ongoing pursuit of others.
The army asserted that the soldiers would avenge the “regrettable setback”.
Among the deceased were two senior officers and four other personnel, the army revealed.
Two officers sustained injuries in the assault.
While local reports suggest one officer was kidnapped, the army has not confirmed this.
The perpetrators of the ambush remain unidentified, although local armed gangs, referred to as bandits, are often held responsible for targeting security forces.
The attack coincides with Nigeria hosting a two-day high-level African counter-terrorism summit in Abuja.
This ambush follows closely after the deaths of 16 soldiers in clashes between rival communities in the oil-rich southern Delta state a few weeks ago.
Nigeria continues to grapple with a surge in kidnappings for ransom and confronts various jihadist groups.
Students from multiple schools across the New Juaben Municipality and the wider Eastern region turned out in force for the 67th Independence Day celebrations, showcasing their marching prowess and other talents in a vibrant display.
The festivities also saw farmers and security personnel joining in the colorful spectacle, seizing the opportunity to exhibit their own skills and contributions.
Amidst the jubilation, however, there were moments of concern as some soldiers and security personnel collapsed during the parade.
Quick action was taken, with personnel from the Ghana Ambulance Service swiftly responding to attend to the affected individuals. GhanaWeb’s lens captured the urgency as medical responders rushed to the scene, providing assistance to an officer who had fallen.
The collapsed officer was promptly placed on a stretcher and evacuated from the area for further medical attention.
The event, attended by esteemed dignitaries including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, boasted the participation of 21 contingents from various security agencies, representatives from 11 schools, and diverse traditional groups, adding to the grandeur of the occasion.
A video of some military men showcasing their Jama prowess to their foreign military counterparts has surfaced online.
In the video, the soldiers are seen singing and dancing to various jama tunes.
The spirited performances have captivated audiences and highlighted the cultural richness of Ghana’s military personnel.
Jama songs are songs characterized by rhythmic drumming, vibrant singing, and enthusiastic dancing.
These songs are often performed during social gatherings, celebrations, and military events, serving as a source of unity and camaraderie among soldiers.
Watch the video below:
Ghanaian soldiers impress their foreign counterparts with their energetic jama songs. pic.twitter.com/Uk4PO85zZW
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent 2,900 soldiers to help fight against armed rebel groups in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The soldiers will go to Congo as part of a mission from southern African countries. It was approved by a group of countries in that region in May of last year.
Malawi and Tanzania will also send soldiers to help with the mission.
The deployment will cost South Africa 2 billion Rand ($105 million; £83 million) and will last until December this year, according to a statement from the presidency.
The announcement comes as there is more fighting happening, which has caused many people to leave their homes in DR Congo. About seven million people have been forced to leave their homes because of different conflicts.
The US government has identified the three troops killed in a drone attack in Jordan on Sunday.
The victims are Sgt William Jerome Rivers, 46, Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23. They lost their lives when a drone struck their housing unit.
The US has attributed the attack to Iranian-backed groups, with the Pentagon suggesting the involvement of Kataib Hezbollah. While the US does not seek war with Iran, it has condemned the actions of these groups.
According to CBS News, an Iranian-made drone, possibly of the “Shahed” type, was used in the attack. The Shahed drone is known as a one-way attack drone that Iran has reportedly supplied to Russia.
Despite accusations from the US and the UK, Iran has denied supporting militant groups responsible for the drone strike.
The three soldiers were part of an army reserve unit based in Fort Moore, Georgia. Lt Gen Jody Daniels, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General US Army Reserve Command, expressed condolences and paid tribute to the fallen soldiers.
“On behalf of the Army Reserve, I share in the sorrow felt by their friends, family, and loved ones. Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten, and we are committed to supporting those left behind in the wake of this tragedy”, said Gen Daniels.
The drone attack occurred in Rukban, north-eastern Jordan, near the Syrian border, specifically at a base identified by US officials as Tower 22. Over 40 military personnel were injured when an unmanned aerial system targeted the container housing unit they were in on a Sunday morning.
According to US officials, features of the air defense system at Tower 22 were turned off during the attack because an enemy drone coincided with the return of a US drone. Troops at the air base were reportedly in their sleeping quarters when the drone struck, catching them off guard.
Despite the denial of involvement by Iran, the US has expressed determination to take “all necessary actions” in response to the attack on American forces. The Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, along with President Biden, has underscored the seriousness of the situation.
This was the first time someone was tried for treason in Ghana since 1966 when the leader of the country after gaining independence, Kwame Nkrumah, was removed from power.
Six people were taken into custody in 2021 for trying out weapons in the capital city of Accra. It’s believed they were planning to overthrow the government.
The group, which had a gun maker, said they were not guilty during a trial that caught the nation’s attention.
The court said it found strong evidence against the men, such as intercepted messages and testimonies.
Lawyer Godfred Yeboah Dame, who was in charge of the case, said that the court’s decision is very important.
MrDame said that the constitution of Ghana is the most important law in the country. It keeps the country stable. It is very serious and not allowed to try to remove the government. This is called treason and it is punished by death.
Ghana did not execute anyone from 1992 when they had democracy.
Lawmakers decided to get rid of the death penalty for regular crimes last year. Instead, they chose to give people a life sentence.
Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has reported three additional fatalities in Bawku. The legislator conveyed this information during an appearance on JoyNews’ AM Show.
This development raises the death toll to 5 within the past 48 hours.
Ayariga mentioned that the individuals were shot by soldiers who alleged the discovery of firearms on them around 8 pm on Thursday. The situation in Bawku appears to be escalating, with the recent incidents of violence contributing to the rising number of casualties.
“Unfortunately, we even had additional killings last night…they hit the three of them mercilessly. The assemblyman tried to intervene, but they refused to listen and they beat these boys and finally shot the three of them.”
He added that another individual who was present with the deceased individuals before the shooting managed to escape the incident.
“I am so scandalised by what the soldiers have done, and the youth are grieving. This is very dastardly,” he added.
The Ghana Armed Forces have not yet issued a public response to the matter. Meanwhile, Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu has urged residents in Bawku to remain calm amid the reported incidents.
The situation remains tense, awaiting official statements and interventions to address the concerns raised by the Member of Parliament and ensure stability in the region.
“My condolences to the family and those who have lost their loved ones. It is not easy for someone to lose his or her loved one, but what I am saying is that as politicians, we should be very careful what comes out of our mouth so it does not tear this problem to the highest level,” Mr Ayariga added.
On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, unidentified gunmen launched an attack, resulting in the killing of two individuals in the Upper East Regional town.
According to reports, the shooting took place around noon when unknown gunmen targeted tricycle operators near the Bawku Community Centre.
Six people were shot during this incident, with one person succumbing to injuries on the spot, and another passing away the following morning while receiving treatment. The situation has heightened tensions in the region, demanding swift action and resolution to address the security concerns.
Head pastor of the International God’s Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim, expressed his nostalgia for the privileges he once enjoyed as a pastor.
He shared that in the past, his security detail included six (6) policemen, eight (8) soldiers, and fifteen (15) bodyguards who accompanied him everywhere to ensure his protection.
However, he noted that the current situation is different, and he now either travels with a fellow pastor or walks alone during his trips.
In a TikTok live session monitored by GhanaWeb, Bishop Daniel Obinim advised the public to be cautious with their lives, especially when experiencing success and financial prosperity.
“People are saying they like the current Obinim. Brother, what I have gone through in life, that I am not in the limelight anymore, is a lot. Right now, when I am walking, no one follows me. There is no soldier or bodyguard apart from my driver, Pastor Raymond.
“Previously, I was followed by 6 policemen, 8 soldiers, national security, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) officials, and 15 bodyguards, but today, where are they? No more. I walk alone or with my pastor,” he said.
Obinim is not as vocal in the public sphere as he once was, though it is unknown why he would make such assertions.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army said it would punish any soldier linked to the mainly Hutu rebel group linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The army said anyone – regardless of rank – who violates the ban on dealing with FDLR militias will be arrested.
The announcement follows US pressure on Congo and Rwanda to ease tensions between them.
Many believe that Rwanda formed the Tutsi-led M23 rebel group to fight the FDLR. Rwandan authorities have always denied accusations that they support this group.
The Headmistress of Brakwa Senior High Technical School (BRASTECH), Mrs. Juliana Azazu, along with several school authorities, were forced to seek refuge in nearby bushes for safety when a group of men, dressed in military uniforms, attempted to attack them in the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District.
Mrs. Azazu recounted her harrowing experience to GhanaWeb, explaining that she had ordered the confiscation of students’ mobile phones as part of an effort to combat exam cheating and instill discipline among the students on campus.
One of the students who disagreed with the school’s decision informed his brothers at home.
Subsequently, four imposing individuals, two of whom were wearing military attire and all of whom were wearing face masks, recklessly drove two sedan cars onto the campus. They demanded the return of the phones and issued severe threats if their demands were not met.
In fear of the intimidating presence and authority of these men, the headmistress and some school authorities fled from the scene.
Although they reported the incident to the police, they are now living in fear because all the suspects apprehended by the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District Police Command have been released on bail without being processed through the court, leaving the case in limbo.
Mrs. Azazu appealed to the local police command to expedite the investigation and ensure that the suspects face the full consequences of the law.
The presence of these suspects in the community has heightened insecurity in the area, and residents are unable to carry out their daily activities in peace, leading to significant distress among the community members.
Presently, the residents of Mekelle are acquiring information about their deceased family members who lost their lives in the conflict with Ethiopian forces and their supporters. The fighting started in November 2020 when the national government claimed that militias who were supporters of the regional party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), attacked the military base in the north.
Shortly after, soldiers from Eritrea and local militias supported the Ethiopian government and battled against the Tigrayan forces. Eventually, a peace agreement was made in Pretoria last year.
A lot of people in Mekelle have been informed that their family members have died. I went to a funeral ceremony and a religious service at a church. “It made me really sad,” said one person who liveshere.
The person who lives there said they were concerned about the young people from the neighborhood who had joined the army and haven’t returned yet. They mentioned that they will find out what happened to them next week.
Another person living in Tigray visited different parts of the region. They saw villagers grieving over the loss of their family members in various locations.
Last week, Getachew Reda, who is the president of the temporary Tigray government, told journalists that soon the families of soldiers who have passed away will receive details about their loved ones.
However, people are saying that the authorities are at fault because they did not officially inform families that their loved ones have died.
According to reports, families are being made to look for soldiers,but then army commanders eventually tell them that the soldiers have passed away.
Neither the federal government nor TPLF said how many fighters they lost in the two-year war. All the parties were blamed for doing terrible things during that time.
Even though there is no fighting in the area anymore, officials are saying that some people are hungry because aid organizations have stopped giving out food. This happened because they found out that some people have been stealing the aid supplies.
The assault comes a week after Burkina Faso’s parliament endorsed the sending of troops to Niger in arrange to battle the Islamist rebellion along the countries’ common border.
Burkina Faso’s state-owned RTB TV channel said on Sunday that strikes where propelled after troops spotted “a column of terrorists” taking off Niger for Burkina Faso.
Joint strengths “neutralised these assailants in sets on 100 motorbikes and annihilated most of their logistics” in eastern Burkina Faso’s Kantchari region, the channel included.
Earier this month, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali built up a protection agreement, named the Organization together of Sahel States, in a offered to back each other against any equipped disobedience or outside hostility.
A two-day poll conducted by Global InfoAnalytics on August 18 and 19, approximately indicates that 52% of the Ghanaian population opposes Ghana’s participation in a military intervention aimed at restoring democracy in Niger.
This poll surveyed 1,618 respondents spanning all sixteen regions of Ghana. Among its findings, it revealed that nearly 76% of Ghanaians believe that coups in African countries stem from poor governance. Conversely, 17% do not share this perspective, and 7% expressed no opinion.
Furthermore, 49% of Ghanaians hold the view that coups do not provide a lasting solution to addressing governance issues, while 43% disagree, and 8% do not have a definite opinion on the matter.
The backdrop for this discussion is the recent ousting of Niger’s President, Mohamed Bazoum, leading the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to order the deployment of its standby force on August 10 to reinstate constitutional order in Niger.
The declaration was made by ECOWAS President Omar Alieu Touray during the ECOWAS Extraordinary meeting in Abuja.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security for the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), Abdel-Fatau Musah, has contested assertions that the bloc would require 50,000 troops in Niger for a potential deployment to remove the military junta.
He pointed out that Niger’s military has approximately 13,000 personnel, and if ECOWAS were to deploy its standby army to restore the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, it wouldn’t necessitate 50,000 troops to confront them.
The question of troop numbers was initially raised by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, who cited credible sources to support his claims.
During his appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 19, he further revealed that, regrettably, only four countries within the bloc were likely to contribute troops to this mission.
“If you really look at ECOWAS today, it’s Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Nigeria is already stretched with Boko Haram. Tinubu [Nigeria’s President] doesn’t have support. Ivory Coast says they can do 1,000 [soldiers].
“Senegal, I know has received a juicy offer from America to send their troops to Haiti to support the American intervention there because Haiti is totally getting out of control. They are likely to accept that. We’re left with Ghana, how are we going to get those numbers?” he quizzed.
Soldiers in Niger’s capital, Niamey, have reportedly blockaded the presidential palace and several ministries, as reported in various news outlets.
The incident did not involve any shots being fired, but the motive behind the blockade remains uncertain.
President Mohamed Bazoum is currently at his residence with his family, while talks are being held to address the situation.
Though there is speculation about a potential attempt by the presidential guard to seize power, there is no official confirmation at this time.
According to the Africa Press Agency (AFP), military personnel have surrounded President Bazoum’s residence.
One unnamed source has described the incident as a “fit of temper” by the troops. More information and updates are expected to follow as authorities work to de-escalate the situation and restore order.
At least 20 soldiers were killed on Monday in a suicide bombing by an Islamist inside a camp for the Somali army in Mogadishu, according to officials and witnesses.
The Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab group made the claim for the assault, which took place at the Jaalle Siyad Military Academy.
“More than 20 people died in the explosion,” Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu, a member of the Somali parliament, told AFP. “The victims are soldiers who were defending their country against terrorists,” he added.
Another parliamentarian, who asked to remain anonymous, reported 27 dead and around 60 injured.
The suicide bomber managed to enter the base where the 14th infantry brigade was about to begin a refresher course and detonated its explosive vest, witnesses said.
“I was in a nearby military camp when the explosion happened. We rushed to the scene, it was horrible,” said Mohamed Hassan, a member of the Somali army. “The investigation is still ongoing and the death toll could be higher”.
Since 2007, the Al-Shabaab organization has been fighting a insurgency of violence against the Somali government.
Despite a major offensive launched in August by forces loyal to the government and supported by African Union soldiers and US aircraft, its militants were forced out of Mogadishu in 2011 but the organization is still a strong force.
Large portions of Somalia are still under the group’s control, and it continually conducts lethal operations against civilian, political, and military targets.
In a video allegedly welcoming his soldiers to Belarus, the Wagner Group’s Russian head made an appearance.
According to reports, Yevgeny Prigozhin blasted the front line situation in Ukraine and told his forces they would “stay there for some time.”
According to Sky News, it’s thought to have been filmed last evening at the Tsel military facility in the south of the nation.In a video allegedly welcoming his soldiers to Belarus, the Wagner Group’s Russian head made an appearance.
It comes after an ex-US military official claimed he was ‘probably dead’.
Prigozhin’s plane arrived in Belarus on Tuesday morning and he is believed to have said: ‘Welcome lads… welcome to Belarusian soil.
‘We fought honourably. You have done a great deal for Russia. What is going on at the front is a disgrace that we do not need to get involved in.’
He also reportedly said the Wagner Group would take no further part in the war for now.
One Twitter user translated Prigozhin’s speech, explaining that he said his troops will remain in Belarus before ‘gathering our strength and heading off for Africa’.
He reportedly added: ‘We may return to [fight in Ukraine] when we will be certain that we won’t be made to disgrace ourselves and our experience.’
Prigozhin staged a coup against Vladimir Putin in late June by ordering his soldiers to travel towards Moscow.
The rebellion against the Kremlin ultimately failed and the Russian president said his former caterer’s actions amounted to ‘armed mutiny’.
Many experts predicted that Prigozhin was likely to be dead following the march on Moscow and he has not been seen in public since.
After the brief uprising against Putin, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko reportedly made a deal to welcome Wagner forces across the border to join the military in Belarus.
Earlier this month, Mr Lukashenko claimed Prigozhin had returned to Russia and his fighters had decided against the offer of relocating to Belarus.
However, satellite images taken on Monday appeared to show a huge convoy arriving at a previously abandoned military base in the town of Osipovichi, around 45 miles from the capital Minsk.
The site had been offered to Wagner by local authorities and more than 100 vehicles with Russian flags and Wagner insignia were seen heading towards the camp, according to Belaruski Hajun, an activist group that monitors the movement of troops.
Four officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) have been honored with promotions in recognition of their courage and selfishness during a rescue operation.
The officers exhibited exceptional bravery while attempting to save three fellow colleagues who had been targeted by unidentified assailants in Bawku on April 3rd of this year.
The three officers whose car came under fire from unknown gunmen on their way to buy food were 30-year-old Assistant Inspector Eric Ayidiya, stationed at the Polimakom border post, and 42-year-old Inspector Lawrence Afari, stationed at Kulungugu post, both of whom got injured and received treatment at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital.
A third officer, 42-year-old Inspector Philip Motey, died from injuries sustained during the attack. He was laid to rest last Saturday.
The officers who rescued their colleagues: Chief Superintendent (C/Supt.) Michael Brewu Ampofoh was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Immigration.
Assistant Inspector Harris Quartey was promoted to the rank of Inspector; Immigration Control Officer (ICO) Wisdom Elorm Addo was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector, whilst Assistant Immigration Control Officer Grade II Emmanuel Forson was promoted to the rank of Assistant Immigration Control Officer Grade I.
All four officers also received citations, certificates and plaques, recognising their work.
The Controller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi, in an address, said on the evening of April 3, 2023 at about 19:51 hours, Chief Superintendent Michal Brewu Ampofoh, received a distress call from one Assistant Inspector Eric Afari who informed the Bawku Command of the attack by the unknown gunmen who fired several shots at their vehicle, killing Inspector Phillip Motey and injuring two others.
Mr Takyi commended Chief Superintendent Ampofoand the three others for their swift response despite the perilous situation.
“Quickly, Chief Supt. Ampofoh and team of other three officers rushed to the scene while keeping touch with Assistant Inspector Laurence Afari through his phone, receiving directions and reassuring them that help was coming until the team got there… while it shocked me as well as many others how the immigration response team got there faster in spite of the danger on their way,” he said.
He encouraged other officers to follow the example of the four by not turning their backs on fellow colleagues when their assistance was needed especially, in volatile areas of duty such as Bawku.
“All security personnel should hold and teach that we must not turn our backs on our colleagues in any way or form when our help is most needed. I say this because we all know about the situation in the Bawku area and the danger that the conflict poses to security officials and residents as a whole,” he said.
On her part, Mrs. Adelaide Anno-Kumi, the Chief Director at the Ministry of Interior, in an address, on behalf of the Minister, Ambrose Dery, commended the immigration service for recognising the heroic move by the four officers as stipulated in regulation 171D (2016) L.I. 2245 of the Ghana Immigration Service.
Madam Anno-Kumi hinted that Government via the Ministry of Interior recognised threats faced by immigration service officers who worked around the clock to ensure that the country’s borders were safe and protected against all forms of cross border crimes.
She added that government would continue to retool the service to execute its mandate as expected.
The newly promoted Michael Brewu Ampofoh at a media interview said though he was pleased with the recognition for his hard work, he saw this award and promotion as an extra duty which required more efforts and commitment.
“… day in day out when we are promoted from one rank to the other it is an additional responsibility which is a paradigm shift in your behaviour, your operations, your attitudes towards work, how you respond to such calls,” he said.
A unit of soldiers is seen repelling a Russian ambush on the outskirts of Bakhmut in dramatic footage from the Ukrainian frontlines.
The 11-minute video depicts valiantly defending Bakhmut’s “Road of Life,” one of the final safe exits from the besieged city, by Ukrainians from the elite “Da Vinci Wolves” corps.
A Ukrainian is seen in helmet-cam film running across a stretch of desolate no-man’s land to meet with a group of soldiers positioned inside a trench bunker to inform them that a colleague has been murdered.
‘Norman….he is dead. Rest in peace’ he tells his squadmates, who respond by saying ‘yes brother, that’s how it is in war’.
The soldiers are seen squatting in a bunker prior to the ambush (Picture: Twitter/ Def Mon)But suddenly a Russian grenade lands at the trench mouth and almost wipes out the unit (Picture: Twitter/Def Mon)
The soldiers take a moment of respite in the trench as one – later called ‘Lekha’ – digs into the ground at the mouth of the dug out.
But seemingly without warning, a grenade goes off nearby and Lekha is blasted off his feet and falls on his stomach.
Lekha’s squadmates scramble to assess their comrade’s injuries, and after he gives a thumbs-up to let them know he is uninjured the rest of the unit scrambles out of the bunker and into position.
‘Orcs jumped into our trenches,’ an ally radios in to inform them. ‘Do you copy?’
‘First trench guys, nearest to you,’ they are told, and spring into action.
The Da Vinci’s are considered to be among the best trained and equipped of the volunteer corps, and with little cover they emerge into the battlefield to suppress the advancing Russians, taking positions around the bunker and gunning down targets as they crawl away.
The cameraman- believed to be the squad leader codenamed ‘Tihiy’- moves around the trench, behind a knoll for cover.
From the high ground, he targets a number of Russian soldiers in the prone position trying to get away, and directs his squadmates around the battlefield in an attempt to suppress the assault and conserve ammo.
After repelling the invaders without sustaining any further casualties, Tihiy can be heard triumphantly exclaiming: ‘What’s up orcs? It’s our field, f*** off!’
The Battle of Bakhmut has become the most bloodthirsty conflict of the war to date, which has seen Russia attempt to grind down the Ukrainian forces with endless ‘human wave’ attacks designed to overwhelm the defenders with their sheer numbers.
It has been reported that up to 42,000 Russians have been killed in their ongoing attempts to take the city, which has seen Ukrainians kill them at a rate of 7:1.
Yet Russia has slowly managed to gain control of the area by exhausting Ukraine’s supplies in a deadly war of attrition, and is now believed to control around 80% of the city.
The ‘Road of Life’ is one of the last areas of the city still under Ukrainian control, and is the only safe passage out of the city into the nearby settlement of Chasiv Yar.
Over 500 soldiersto be deployed to Bawku in the Upper East Region to assist with the region’s growing instability.
The decision to deploy armed men was taken after a delegation, comprising National Security Coordinator, Edward Asomani; Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, Chief of the Army Staff, and other heads of state security and intelligence agencies paid a working visit to the area.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Bawku, Amadu Hamza, in an interview with Citi News, the mandate of the task force will also help deal with the influx of Burkinabes entering the country as a result of the insurgency in that country.
The deployment follows the death of one immigration officer in Bawku on April 3. The motive for the attack remains unclear; there have been no claims of responsibility yet.
Bawku has since the beginning of the year experienced turbulent insecurity following renewed chieftaincy disputes.
According to government, the state of confusion in Bawku can also be attributed to criminal activities.
Thirty-three troops have been slained in a fresh violent attack by alleged jihadists on Thursday in eastern Burkina Faso, a Sahelian nation that has been spiraling further and farther into the unrest that first surfaced in 2015.
“The military detachment of Ougarou,” in the eastern region, “faced a large-scale complex attack on Thursday morning,” said an army statement. “Thirty-three of our soldiers, unfortunately, fell with their weapons in their hands, while twelve others were wounded,” it added.
“During the fighting, which was particularly intense, the soldiers of the detachment showed remarkable determination in the face of an enemy that came in very large numbers,” according to the army, which said they “managed to neutralize at least forty terrorists before the arrival of reinforcements.
The deployment of these reinforcements “has enabled the evacuation of the wounded who are currently being treated by the health services,” according to the army.
Security sources said the attackers were “heavily armed” and that “some soldiers are missing”.
The statement said that “the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces salutes the memory of the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the performance of their duty. “He encourages all units engaged in operations to maintain efforts to strengthen the momentum of the ongoing recovery,” the text adds.
The attack comes a week after the April 20 massacre of at least 60 civilians in the northern village of Karma by men wearing army fatigues.
Officially revealed on Sunday, it left “sixty” dead according to a local prosecutor, “more than a hundred” according to representatives of the survivors and residents of Karma.
– “Vile and barbaric acts” –
The government “strongly condemned these despicable and barbaric acts” on Thursday and said it was closely following the progress of the investigation” opened by the prosecutor of the Ouahigouya (northern) high court to “elucidate” the facts and “arrest all those involved”.
The victims of Karma were buried on Thursday evening.
“The administrative authorities mobilized for the burial of the remains of our mothers, our fathers, our sisters and our sons”, that is to say “a hundred people”, Daouda Belem, one of the survivors, told AFP.
He thanked the government for “allowing Karma to bury its dead” and called for collaboration with the gendarmerie in its investigation.
On April 18, at least 24 people, including 20 civilian army replacements, were killed in two attacks by suspected jihadists in east-central Burkina.
On April 15, six soldiers and 34 civilian auxiliaries were killed in the north during an assault on their detachment.
Burkina Faso, the scene of two military coups in 2022, has been caught since 2015 in a spiral of jihadist violence that began in Mali and Niger a few years earlier and has spread beyond their borders.
The violence has left more than 10,000 civilians and soldiers dead over the past seven years, according to NGOs, and some two million people displaced.
Burkina Faso’s transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who came to power in a coup in September 2022, signed a one-year “general mobilization” decree last week, allowing for the requisition of “young people aged 18 and over” to go and fight against the jihadists who are bloodying the country.
The minister of defense, Dominic Nitiwul, has asked theGonja Traditional Councilto provide the 155th armored regiment in Damongo extra land so that it can expand its facilities.
According to him, the presence of more military personnel will further enhance the peace and security in the area.
Speaking at a short programme to commission a 30-unit accommodation for junior officers, the Minister of Defence reiterated the commitment of government towards the expansion of infrastructure at all garrisons across the country.
“We know that adequate and appropriate military accommodation play an important function in the wellbeing and performance of the military personnel and government shall therefore continue to explore acceptable ways of mitigating accommodation challenges of all garrisons across the country.
“I wish to use this opportunity to appeal to traditional authorities especially my father, the Yagbonwura, the regional minister and all stakeholders to ensure the allocation of more lands to the military for future development.”
He believes the existence of the military in the Savannah Region will consolidate the peace of the region while opening up economic development.
He applauded the Military High Command for their continuous cooperation with government to facilitate the enormous infrastructure springing up across all military camps.
For his part, Commanding Officer at the 155 Armoured Regiment Lieutenant Col. Philimon Hoffman lauded the Chief of Defense and the army staff for seeing to the completion of the project.
“It is worth noting that the beginning was not easy but with the fortitude of the Chief of the Army Staff and the High Command, today the camp is operational and the regiment is happy with the work done so far. But like Oliver Twist, we humbly ask for more projects.”
The Minister later commissioned a 30-unit junior officers accommodation.
He, together with his entourage, also paid a courtesy call on the Yagbonwura.
The 155 Armoured Regiment in Damongo was established in 2021 as part of the expansion drive of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The regiment initially deployed five officers and 26 soldiers but the strength has increased exponentially to some 484 soldiers.
Former British Army soldier, Michael Mantey, who sued the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for £1.6 million over a non-freezing cold injury he suffered while on duty in Estonia in late 2017, has been ordered to pay a court bill of over £70,000 after he was caught on video walking without a stick and wearing sandals.
Mantey, who had claimed that he could only walk with the aid of a stick and had to wear several layers of clothing due to his injury, dropped the case after the MoD presented the surveillance footage.
The judge, Mr Justice Eyre, found Mantey’s claim to be “fundamentally dishonest” as medical experts could find “no medical explanation” for the difference in appearance and symptoms, and said that the former soldier had “deliberately presented himself in a false manner” and “deliberately gave a false account of his symptoms.”
Mr. Mantey suffered reportedly a NCFI injury when he had to sleep in the cold without a tent.
NCFI, also known as Non-Freezing Cold Injury, is a specific kind of injury that affects hands and feet when they are exposed to extremely cold and damp conditions. It was initially observed in soldiers during World War I who were fighting in the trenches. This injury occurs due to the body’s tissue being exposed to prolonged wetness and extreme coldness.
The Ghana-born ex-soldier claimed that he was subjected to other periods of working in damagingly cold temperatures and was told to “man up” when he complained to his superiors.
As part of his claim, Mr. Mantey stated that he incurred “additional heating costs” through having to keep his house warmer than he would otherwise have done and had to “purchase warmer clothing.”
According to him, the discomfort in his feet, coupled with a back problem, made walking a challenging task and thus had to rely on a walking stick for mobility.
Mantey joined the British Army in 2009 and worked for the 22 and 26 Engineer Regiments until his medical discharge in January 2020.
During the trial, Mr Mantey provided evidence refuting any claims of dishonesty by stating that on good days with effective medication, he can walk without a stick.
He expressed a desire for others to understand the daily struggles he faces, indicating that if people witnessed his experiences firsthand, they might reconsider their assumptions about him.
Mr Mantey emphasized the severity of his injuries and the fact that he is in constant pain, which can occur at any time, catching him off guard.
The footage shown in court only captures one day of his life, and he wants people to understand that his condition is a lifelong struggle.
‘If only someone could see what I go through every day, then this story could be re-written. This is just one day of footage. I have been told my injuries would stay with me forever. Pain comes when you’re not prepared for it. It comes when it wants to come..,’ he said.
However, according to the judge, Mr Mantey did not experience the symptoms and reduced functionality he reported to various medical professionals in 2021 and 2022.
‘He chose to report symptoms which he knew were false and from which he was not suffering. He did so in the context of a substantial damages claim,’ he said.
‘The only possible explanation is that he did so deliberately and with a view to enhancing the value of the claim. Such conduct was clearly dishonest.
‘I find on the balance of probabilities that Mr Mantey suffered a minor NCFI, from which he had fully recovered at some point before September 2021.
‘He dishonestly portrayed himself as having suffered a more serious injury which had a continuing and disabling effect, doing so for financial gain.
‘That dishonesty tainted the whole of the claim. It went to the heart of the claim; it substantially affected the presentation of the case as a whole; and led to a significant inflation in the claim’s value.
‘Putting it shortly, there was dishonesty as to a central feature of the case, namely the extent and continuing effect of Mr Mantey’s injuries.’
As a result of this finding, Mr. Mantey is now responsible for paying the Ministry of Defense’s legal fees, which are expected to exceed £70,000.
One of the victims of military brutality in the Taifa neighborhood of Ashaiman is in a state of trauma following the alleged torture he suffered by armed men.
According to the victim who asked to be kept anonymous, the incident happened on Tuesday, March 7, at around 4 am, when he went outside to use the restroom.
“Two soldiers came rushing at me with their guns asking me not to run as they would shoot me. I had no option but to comply leaving my wife and children in the room”
“With the gun to my head, I was marched to a point where water had collected after an earlier downpour. I was severely beaten as I laid with face down in the water,” he narrated.
He stated that no amount of plea would calm the armed soldiers who are said to be visiting attacks on the residents to avenge the killing of their colleague over the weekend.
He said he feels pain all over his body after being beaten to a pulp.
“The marks on my back tell it all. I have severe pain in my penis and balls and my back hurts so badly. My friends later helped me to a health facility where I was given first aid,”
“ I have been asked to come back for further checks. I feel unwell harbouring so much fear and pain”
He said other residents could not escape the wrath of the uniformed personnel.
“I heard a taxi driver collapsed after being beaten, a university graduate who was recording the incident was not spared as they her to her room, but to mention a few”
“For the fear of losing my life and possible attack my family, we are vacating our home to seek refuge elsewhere,” he shared.
He pleaded with government and military high command to intervene and restore order.
Meanwhile, his wife who was asleep at the time could not come to terms with what her husband had been through.
She said their 6-year-old son is traumatized and has decided not to eat after helping clean blood from his dad’s wounds.
“We no longer feel safe here and leaving this place is the best decision. The soldiers warned that they would be revisiting Ashaiman tonight and days after until culprits for the colleague’s death are found”
“Some soldiers were seen barging into people’s homes to attack them”
With their helicopter in the air and armoured vehicles and armed personnel taking over parts of Ashaiman, some residents remained indoors with others closed their shops to avert becoming victims.
The situation is said to have somewhat affected daily interaction between Ashaiman and neighbouring communities.
Information reaching our news desk is that about 20 military officers have invaded Ashaiman, restricting free movement of residents.
The Tuesday imposed curfew, per reports, comes as a response to the murder of a military officer over the weekend.
Reports say a male soldier was beaten to death by unknown civilians in the area.
OMG. Another sad new! A soldier was going home for treatment but couldn’t reach home. Some gang in Ashaiman beat him to death. R.I.P #Accra#Ashaimanpic.twitter.com/uXMbpgo55N
The heads of the security agencies in Ghana are yet to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile the matter has gotten social media buzzing, with many calling for police intervention.
The invasion of the soldiers come after a 22-year-old captain with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) band in Sunyani in the Bono Region was reportedly stabbed to death by unknown attackers Saturday dawn.
The soldier, according to sources, was returning from his girlfriend’s house in Taifa and heading towards his residence at Zongo-Laka in Ashaiman when the unfortunate incident occurred.
Though he was carrying a laptop and other electronic gadgets the attackers made away with only his iPhone, according to the local media.
Police are currently investigating the circumstances under which the soldier was killed and appealing for information from the public.
#ashaiman the issue has escalated my people. The military is now entering and badging into home dragging some youths out their homes, especially those with dreads.. one civilian dead per rumors at Ashaiman taifa as a result of the beatings …😭😭
A court in Mali has sentenced 46 soldiers from Ivory Coast to 20 years’ imprisonment for conspiring against the government, and three others to death in absentia.
The soldiers were also fined more than $3,000 and convicted of carrying and transporting weapons, Prosecutor General Ladji Sara said in a statement on Friday.
Forty-nine Ivorian soldiers were arrested at the airport in Mali’s capital Bamako in July, three of whom were later released. Their arrests led to a diplomatic row between the neighbouring countries and widespread condemnation from regional allies.
The soldiers were detained when they went to work for Sahel Aviation Service, a private company contracted to work in Mali by the United Nations.
Mali’s military administration said the soldiers were acting as mercenaries, while Ivory Coast said they were part of a UN peacekeeping mission.
They were charged with attempting to undermine state security in August and convicted in a trial that began on Thursday and ended on Friday, ahead of a January 1 deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the region’s main political and economic bloc, to release them or face sanctions.
Ivory Coast said its troops were being held hostage, and has made repeated pleas for their release. The country announced last month that it would withdraw its remaining soldiers from the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
One of Africa’s most volatile countries, Mali has for a decade relied on regional allies and peacekeepers to contain rebels who have killed thousands of people and taken over large areas of the central and northern regions.
Mali has little to gain from antagonising a key neighbour, said Alexander Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati.
“The junta is compounding its isolation and adding to the likelihood that (the UN peacekeeping mission) will collapse,” he said.
Some soldiers on guard at the Bank of Ghana (BoG) premises in Takoradi, in the Western Region on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, allegedly brutalized some innocent members of a masquerade group who were parading through the streets of the metropolis.
Narrating the incident to Empire News’ Kwame Malcolm, the victim, Roberta Monkah said she has been left with wounds under her right eye following the assault.
“We were in a procession and someone lighted firecrackers and rushed back to my fiancé and I. Out of nowhere three soldiers from the Bank of Ghana approached us and started assaulting my fiancé. So it was there I told them that he is not the one who lit it. But out of nowhere a soldier from behind kicked me and I fell and he hit my lower eye with the butt of his gun leaving blood gushing out,” she narrated.
She was thus taken to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Hospital in Takoradi for medical attention.
She however added that upon lodging a complaint at the Takoradi Central Police station, she was asked to bring a doctor’s report which she’s yet to obtain at a cost of GHc500.
The Christmas period in the Sekondi Takoradi metropolis is marked by various masquerade groups parading and dancing to brass band music on the streets of the metropolis.
Prince Harry is connecting with military children who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
In honor of Remembrance Sunday, the Duke of Sussex penned a letter to Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a U.K. charity for bereaved military children and young people. Having lost his mother Princess Diana at age 12, Prince Harry said, “We share a bond even without ever meeting one another, because we share in having lost a parent. I know first-hand the pain and grief that comes with loss and want you to know that you are not alone.”
He continued, “While difficult feelings will come up today as we pay tribute to heroes like your mum or dad, I hope you can find comfort and strength in knowing that their love for you lives and shines on. Whenever you need a reminder of this, I encourage you to lean into your friends at Scotty’s Little Soldiers. One of the ways I’ve learned to cope has been through community and talking about my grief, and I couldn’t be more grateful and relieved that you have amazing people walking beside you throughout your journey. We all know some days are harder than others, but together those days are made easier.”
“Today and every day, I admire and respect all the men and women who have given their lives in service of us — especially those in your family,” Harry said. “I am also incredibly proud of you for being the best example in remembering them.”
On Sunday, 55 members of the Scotty’s Little Soldiers and their parents marched in the National Service of Remembrance parade in London, sporting yellow and black scarves.
“When you march together in today’s parade, wearing your yellow and black scarves, I know it will be hard, but equally important to do,” Prince Harry wrote. “Today you will bring new awareness to young people, just like you, who will benefit from this community of support. I salute you for serving others in need, in the most honourable memory of your parent.”
He signed the letter, “With my deepest respect, Harry.”
Scotty’s Little Soldiers said on their website, “Prince Harry knows November can be a proud but emotional time for bereaved British Forces children, and he understands what it is like to experience the death of a parent. He has been involved with the charity for several years, and today he wrote this special letter for our members at Remembrance.”
Scotty member 14-year-old Samuel Hall, who was only 3 years old when his dad Lt Cdr Andrew Hall died by illness in 2012, said: “It’s comforting to know Prince Harry understands how we feel and cares about us. It was great to receive the letter. Remembrance is a difficult time and being with Scotty’s helps me and the other members know people are there for us.”
Georgia Paterson, a 14-year-old girl whose father Cpl Norman Stevenson died when she was 7 years old, said: “It’s amazing knowing someone as important as Prince Harry has reached out to us. To know he’s thinking about us and our parents means a lot. I feel able to relate to him as he understands what we have been through.”
The charity was set up by war widow Nikki Scott in 2010 following the death of her husband Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan the previous year.
“We are so grateful to Prince Harry for his continued support,” Scott said in a statement. “Our members know that he truly understands what it’s like to grow up without a parent and it means so much to them to know his thoughts are with them. To receive his letter on Remembrance Sunday has given them a huge boost on a proud but difficult day.”
The Duke of Sussex met Nikki and some of the charity’s members at 2017’s Party at the Palace. When Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in 2018, Scotty’s was selected as one of the charities to benefit from donations to mark the couple’s wedding.
Princess Diana and Prince Harry.Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty
Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, marked Veterans Day in the U.S. and Armistice Day in the U.K. on Friday by sharing a new post on their Archewell Foundation website. The couple shared a photo by Chris Allerton, their wedding photographer, where they face military personnel, including one holding an American flag.
“On this Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, we honor service members across the world,” they wrote. “These brave men and women, as well as their families, have made tremendous sacrifices and embody duty and service. We are proud to work with so many organizations that support veterans and military families, including: The Invictus Games Foundation, The Mission Continues, Team Rubicon, Scotty’s Little Soldiers and The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation. Today and every day, thank you for your service.”
Last year, Meghan and Prince Harry made a surprise visit to a New Jersey military base to mark Veterans Day after attending the 2021 Salute to Freedom gala at the Intrepid Museum in New York City. In a speech at the gala, Prince Harry discussed the isolation service members often feel when returning home and stressed the importance of supporting veterans.
“My experience in the military made me who I am today, and I will always be grateful for the people I got to serve with — wherever in the world we were,” said Harry, who served a decade in the British army and undertook two tours in Afghanistan. “But in war, you also see and experience things you hope no one else has to. These stay with us, sometimes like a slideshow of images.”
He went on to welcome the 2021 Intrepid Valor Award honorees, who he said “are part of an everlasting bond. You are part of the team of teams. And we will always have your backs. You are not alone.”
Eleven soldiers have died and 50 civilians are missing in Burkina Faso following a suspected jihadist attack, the government says.
A supply convoy escorted by the army travelling to the northern town of Djibo, was targeted in an ambush on Monday.
The government called it a “barbaric attack”, the AFP news agency says.
The region is facing a jihadist crisis which has killed thousands and displaced more than two million.
The military, led by Lt Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, took power in a January coup, promising an end to the Islamist insurgency that started in 2015, but violence still rages.
Lt Col Damiba had been at the forefront of the country’s fight against Islamist militants and even wrote a book on the subject last year called West African Armies and Terrorism: Uncertain Responses?
It is not the first time a supply convoy has been targeted this month. On 5 September, at least 35 civilians were killed and 37 wounded after another convoy hit an improvised explosive device on a main road also leading to the north of the country.
The authorities say Monday’s attack, which no-one has yet claimed responsibility for, caused significant material damage, leaving 28 wounded, including 20 soldiers, 1 Volunteer for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) and 7 civilians.
It took place in the Gaskinde area of Soum province, where jihadist groups with links to al-Qaeda and Islamic State have ramped up attacks, according to the Reuters news agency.
Jihadists have also seized land and blockaded areas nearby to and surrounding the area where the convoy was headed.
Both the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda have decided to focus on the Sahel region of Africa, after suffering setbacks in the Middle East.
The Sahel is a strip of semi-arid land beneath the Sahara Desert that stretches across the continent from east to west. It includes parts of Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.
French troops have been trying to help the region’s armies tackle militants since 2013.
In August French troops withdrew from Mali after a diplomatic fall-out with the country’s military rulers, however, they remain in other Sahel countries.
There was concern from other African nations that France’s Mali withdrawal could exacerbate the jihadist insurgence in the area.
“We will be obliged to increase our defence forces and increase the protection of our borders,” Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara said, warning it would create a political vacuum.
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged the UN to keep its peacekeeping force in Mali despite the French departure.
At least 25 people, including government soldiers, were killed during a cattle raid in the volatile Warrap state in central South Sudan, officials have told the BBC.
In total, 18 soldiers and seven civilians were killed during the clash with heavily armed youth, according to Ring Deng – the Warrap state information minister.
Among them were a senior military officer and a former county commissioner, the BBC understands.
Seven soldiers and six civilians were also wounded during the incident.
There are fears the death toll could be as high as 65, local news The Sudan’s Post reported, but Mr Ring has refuted the claims.
He said the incident occurred as a result of “misunderstanding†when soldiers tried to recover stolen cows from the youth.
Cattle raids and revenge attacks have killed thousands of people in South Sudan since independence in 2011.
Insecurity remains rife across the country despite the formation of a unity government in February 2020.
The Ghana Police Service has arrested three military personnel and one other accomplice in connection with a robbery incident at Nsakina near Amasaman on June 4, 2022.
The suspects, № 208183 G/CPL. Yinsabilik Gabriel, № 280252 G/L/CP Elikem Adams, № 209016 L/CPL. Asiedu Stanley and Malik, their accomplice, were arrested following a Police investigation into the robbery.
The Police report indicates that the four suspects scaled a wall into the residence of the complainant and robbed him and his friends of 8 different mobile phones.
The suspects also forcibly made them transfer an amount of ¢850 to a registered MTN number, bearing the name Gabriel Yinsabilik.
Preliminary investigation led to the identification of the three military personnel, who were arrested by the Military Police and handed over to the Amasaman District CID.
The three military suspects have since been cautioned and released to the Military Police while investigation continues.
Meanwhile, their accomplice, Malik, confessed to the crime during interrogation
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF)has dismissed reports that three of its personnel have been arrested for robbery offenses.
In a statement to debunk the reports, GAF said theallegation of robbery has not been established against the three soldiers, hence it is premature for such a conclusion to be drawn by the public.
Referencing a story by The Chronicle which announced the arrest of the soldiers for robbery, the Armed Forces explained that a Nigerian national had reported the soldiers to the Amasaman Police station for alleged extortion, seizure of phones and forced entry into a premise at Nsakina.
The statement further said that based on the report against the soldiers, there was a joint investigation by the Military Police and the Civil Police into the matter.
Subsequently, the “Military Police escorted the three soldiers to the Amasaman Police Station where they were compelled to avail themselves for their photographs to be taken as part of a routine investigation process.â€
GAF said preliminary investigations by the Military Police indicate that one of the soldiers had claimed he had monitored suspicious movements in the house occupied by the Nigerian.
Together with his colleagues, they proceeded to the house and after being ushered in by one of the occupants, they noticed some Nigerians busily working on laptops.
According to the statement, the leader of the group in the house denied any involvement in cyber fraud or any criminal activity and offered to report any such activity to the security services.
The story circulating noted that the soldiers scaled a wall into the residence of the complainant and robbed him and his friends of 8 different mobile phones and forcibly made them transfer an amount of ¢850 to a registered MTN number, bearing the name Gabriel Yinsabilik.
GAF proceeded that the alleged extortion and seizure of phones are still been investigated by the Military Police and the Civil Police for the truth to be ascertained.
“It is therefore unclear the motive of the haste in releasing such information with pictures into the public domain on a yet to be determined matter,†portions of the statement read.
GAF noted that it does not condone any criminal act by its personnel and would not shield any soldier engaged in such activities.
The Armed Forces, however, urged “the media and other stakeholders follow due process for the veracity of claims to be made to ensure accurate information is published.â€
On Saturday, 16th January 2021 about 7.10 am a soldier who has been identified as Sgt Owusu Collins of Military Southern Command Quarters was knocked off his motorbike by an alleged KIA Truck on the Tesano-Achimota road.
The victim who was riding an unregistered boxer motorbike from Tesano direction towards Achimota through Accra -Nsawam main road on reaching a section of the road in-front of Apenkwa Total Filling Station was knocked by the Kia Truck.
The driver in-charge of the said truck failed to stop and bolted with the accident vehicle.
The victim sustained serious injuries and was rushed to 37 Military Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead soon on arrival by the medical officer on duty Dr. Amoah.
The body has since been deposited at the same hospital mortuary pending autopsy.
About 300 registrants at D/A Primary Akwadaanyame 1 in the Ahafo Ano North Constituency were forcibly dispersed by gun-wielding military officers from the 3rd Infantry Battalion at 4pm on Saturday before the closing of registration.
The BVRs had been breaking down intermittently throughout the day, according to our correspondent.
The polling center is a perceived stronghold of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Some key NDC officials present at the scene expressed worry about the development which could disenfranchise several potential voters.
“All these tactics have been deployed by the EC/NPP to disenfranchise many of the qualified Ghanaian registrants.
The EC refused to deploy its Mobile BVR to the centre in spite of numerous calls to the office. Again, they spent more than 4hrs to respond by sending a technician instead whose presence did not solve the problem,* an executive said.
Another noted: “We have filed an irregularity complaint and taken stock of about 300 registrants who were queued and subsequently dispersed by the military
“I was nearly attacked by one of the military personnel who came from Sunyani (3BN)… When he ordered his colleagues to start whipping the registrants, I had to give in and ask the crowd to move from the center.â€
“It was a scary situation for the residents of the area and its adjoining communities,†one Yaw Brogya Genfi stressed.
The EC is yet to officially comment on the incident.
Islamist militants launched a deadly ambush on Nigerian soldiers who were travelling on Tuesday on a key highway that re-opened in January after being closed last year because of frequent attacks.
At least 23 soldiers are reported to have been killed in the attack, which took place approximately 40km (25 miles) from Maiduguri, the main city in north-eastern Borno state.
The death toll is yet to be confirmed but the military has acknowledged it took place in the village of Bulabulin, on the road between Maiduguri and Damboa.
The army, which often downplays its losses, said in a statement that only two soldiers had been killed as well as 17 militants.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap), a Boko Haram faction, said it was behind the attack, saying 40 soldiers were killed.
The splinter group has carried out a number of devastating attacks this year, killing 81 people in the village of Gubio in June, as well as striking the garrison town of Monguno.
Militant Islamist group Boko Haram and its offshoots have waged a brutal insurgency in Nigeria since 2009.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa has explained that the heavy presence of armed personnel of the military and other security agencies in the Ketu South Municipality is meant to enforce the closure of the border.
According to him the number of personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at the borders was now inadequate to enforce the closure effectively, for which reason other security agencies were assisting to enforce of the closure.
Dr Letsa said this at a press conference in Ho on Friday to react to public concerns over the trend, stressing that “Since the closure of the frontier a few months ago to prevent the spread of COVID-19, some lawless people still crossed in and out of Ghana with impunity, using unapproved routes.â€
He said that the recent claims by the Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Henry K. Ametefee that the government had declared war on the Volta Region, and for that matter, the Ewe people, was unfortunate and totally untrue.
“The Volta Region is an integral part of Ghana and so, how can the government declare war on its own people,†the regional minister sought to know.
Dr Letsa revealed that human trafficking and other crimes across the border were still rampant, in spite of the closure of border.
In that regard, he said that the government could not stand aside and look on unconcerned while criminals had a field day to put the lives Ghanaians at risk.
He gave the assurance that the military personnel on duty in the area were all professional soldiers who would carry out their assigned duties diligently without intimidating anyone.
The regional minister, therefore, entreated residents of the area to go about their normal daily activities without entertaining any fear.
The Ketu South Municipal Executive, Mr Elliot Edem Agbenorwu, who was present, denied reports that the soldiers were storming the homes of the residents and demanding their identities at gunpoint, saying no such thing happened.
Gunmen killed 47 people in attacks on villages in the northwestern Nigerian state of Katsina in the early hours of Saturday, local police said.
“Armed bandits”, some of whom wielded AK 47 guns, carried out the attacks, Katsina police said in a statement on Sunday.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the last year by criminal gangs carrying out robberies and kidnappings in northwest Nigeria.
Such attacks have added to security challenges in Africa’s most populous country, which is already struggling to contain Islamist insurgencies in the northeast and communal violence over grazing rights in central states.
Gunmen, some with AK 47 guns, carried out the attacks in three local government authorities in the state in the early hours of Saturday between 12:30 a.m. (2330 GMT) and around 3 a.m., Katsina police said in its statement.
“There was reports of organised and simultaneous attacks in villages in Danmusa, Dutsenma and Safana by groups of armed bandits,” the statement said of some of the attacks.
“Detachments of Police, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Airforce, Civil Defence and DSS (Department of State Services) have been drafted to the area,” it added.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement, said he would not tolerate large scale killing of innocent people by criminal gangs.
“In line with my commitment to security of the people, these attacks will be met with decisive force,” said Buhari, who is from Katsina.
