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.
This warning follows a directive from Ernest Frimpong, the New Patriotic Party’s parliamentary candidate for Amenfi East, who urged illegal miners to confront soldiers attempting to stop their mining activities in the area.
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.