Stop Harassing Col. Damoah - Jaman Citizens Demand

Concerned citizens of Jaman South District on Tuesday staged a peaceful demonstration in Drobo to protest against the harassment of Colonel Kwadwo Damoah, until recently, Manpower and Personnel Administration Director of Ghana Armed Forces.

The demonstrators, clad in red, marched through the principal streets of Japekrom, Kwasibuorkrom and Drobo before assembling at the District Coordinating Council at Drobo, where they presented a petition to the District Coordinating Director, Mr Moslem Mohammed Saani for onward transmission to President John Evans Atta Mills and the Military High Command.

Some of the placards the demonstrators carried read: “Tribalism In Ghana Army Is Not Good”; “Col Damoah's Vision Of Regional Balance In Ghana Army Is The Best”; “We Are All Ghanaians” and “JJ, Ghana Is Not For You Alone”.

In the petition, jointly signed by Mr Boama Amoako and Mr Stephen Dabuo Afriyie, Chairman and Youth Secretary of the Society of Jaman Citizens, respectively, the group demanded the cessation of what they described as the harassment of Colonel Damoah.

It said it was drawing the attention of President Mills as the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces to the harassment and the tormenting of Col Damoah by the Military High Command.

“Col Kwadwo Damoah, a native of Jaman South, who was until recently the Director of Manpower and Personnel Administration in the Ghana Armed Forces, is currently being harassed and emotionally tormented and pursued by the Military High Command for exercising his normal duties of recruiting 420 full-blooded Ghanaians into the Armed Forces.

“This harassment, we believe, has tribal and political connotations. The hardworking and fine Colonel has been left helpless to the extent of being relieved of his position under the pretext of suspecting foul play in his work”, even though there has been no adverse findings against him, the group said.

They said Col. Damoah insistence on the right things being done had displeased some people inside and outside the Military.

The demonstrators said if Col Damoah had questions to answer at all, the right procedure must be followed devoid of vindictiveness, vested interest, intimidation, suppression or harassment.

The group appealed to President Mills to free Col Damoah of the ordeal and trauma he was going through and to work to remove ethnicity in the Military.

“We also appeal to the Ghana National Peace Council and the Christian Council of Churches to also complement the efforts of the President to salvage the plight of the people in the district,” they said.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister; District Superintendent of Police and the Media were given copies of the petition.

GNA