La brutality: GAF apologizes to journalists but calls demonstrators "unruly"

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has issued an apology to journalists and all civilians who "might have been affected" by its men's efforts to stop the "unruly" La demonstrators on Thursday, April 15, 2021.

There were media reports that military men beat up protesters from the La area which comprised a group within the La Traditional Council and the Coalition of La Associations over alleged encroachment of their lands.

This high-handedness visited on the protesters affected journalists who were there to do their job of covering the event.

While apologizing to the journalists, GAF said the actions taken were necessary because the demonstrators turned violent upon seeing the military.

"The facts of the matter are that in the morning of Thursday 15 April 2021, GAF received intelligence that some civilians were demonstrating and moving towards Burma Camp.

A reconnaissance team was dispatched to confirm the report but they could not determine the intentions of the demonstrators. On seeing the soldiers, the demonstrators who had no police permit to demonstrate became violent."

In order to contain the situation at hand, GAF noted that, "reasonable force had to be applied to remove them [protesters]".

Media reports were that some people were injured in the process. On the basis of that, "GAF seizes this opportunity to apologize to the journalists and all innocent persons who might have been affected by the troops’ effort to clear the unruly demonstrators.

"The Military High Command has directed that the case be investigated to ensure that such unfortunate incident do not occur in future."

Below is the full statement:

The attention of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has been drawn to news reports making the rounds that troops have assaulted some civilians including journalists.

The facts of the matter are that in the morning of Thursday 15 April 2021, GAF received intelligence that some civilians were demonstrating and moving towards Burma Camp.

A reconnaissance team was dispatched to confirm the report but they could not determine the intensions of the demonstrators. On seeing the soldiers, the demonstrators who had no police permit to demonstrate became violent.

The reconnaissance team called for reinforcement which came to stop the violent youth from causing any damaged to military installations. It is worthy to note that the general area where the demonstration was taking place, houses vital military installations of national security nature. The implications of any destruction in the area cannot be overemphasized.

In order to restrain the demonstrators, reasonable force had to be applied to remove them. Thus, in the process some of the demonstrators/persons got injured. It later came to light that some of the injured persons were journalists who were there to cover the event.

GAF seizes this opportunity to apologize to the journalists and all innocent persons who might have been affected by the troops’ effort to clear the unruly demonstrators.

The Military High Command has directed that the case be investigated to ensure that such unfortunate incident do not occur in future.

We once again call on all Ghanaians to follow due process in all their actions with GAF so as to avoid such unfortunate situations.

SIGNED

E AGGREY-QUASHIE

Colonel

Director Public Relations