Soldiers On Rampage

Samuel Ofosu Ampofo

Rough tactics of the 1980s were re-enacted in the Eastern Regional town of Kyebi last Saturday, when soldiers subjected suspected 'galamsey' operators to brutalization before handing them over to the police.

A number of young men arrested by the soldiers were made to look at the sun over a long period and eventually made to walk painfully on their knees over a certain distance to the police station where they were ordered locked up.

 By the time the soldiers were done with the Eastern Regional Security Council-organized operation, many of their victims had sustained knee bruises and an elderly woman rushed to the local government hospital after she collapsed from shock.

The crude operation, said to have been ordered by the Eastern Regional Minister, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has agitated the youth in the town who are questioning its rationale, given the careless and uncoordinated manner in which it was undertaken.

A man who sought to challenge the soldiers over the bestial action was threatened, whereupon he gave up his bid.

An eyewitness told DAILY GUIDE that it all started on Friday afternoon when a number of state vehicles were spotted at the scene of the operation.

Vehicles spotted included a National Security Council Toyota Land cruiser with registration number GT 2241-10, Ofosu-Ampofo's Ford Expedition UE 6209, GE 8219-10 belonging to the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), a Nissan Urvan which conveyed the soldiers' GV 3029 and a GBC pickup GE 6751 W.

The soldiers, he said, arrested six suspected galamsey operators and as they held them, a passing taxi was stopped and the driver assaulted for over-speeding.

He was taken to the police station but because the cab belonged to a policeman, he sought to make a case but could not go beyond a verbal complaint, given the advice of the police personnel.

At the police station where the soldiers had taken the suspects to, an earth-moving equipment belonging to a mining company, Extra Gold, was also impounded in what appeared to be a major operation, with worrying repercussions on genuine mining engagements in the vicinity.

A young man who was said to have threatened to kill someone ran to his aunt's house to take cover following his pursuit by the soldiers.

Reports reaching DAILY GUIDE suggest that the soldiers destroyed the belongings of the woman when they forced their way into the house. The suspect's mother collapsed and was rushed to the local government hospital where she is receiving treatment.

The soldiers, whose presence in the town has angered the locals, turned into the nearby bushes searching for suspected galamsey operators.

When the District Police Commander for the area, DSP Ohene Djan, was contacted, he said all he knew was that the Eastern Regional Security Council had brought in some police personnel and soldiers for an operation but could not tell the details.

Investigations suggest that the operation was undertaken on the blind side of the district police.

With the bad blood the operation had created, it would be impossible if the much needed support from the locals would be forthcoming to ensure success, especially with the brutalities of the Atiwa constituency also in the same region fresh on the minds of the people.

Not even the police are happy about the manner in which the operation was undertaken, especially the police owner of the cab whose driver was beaten by the soldiers.

But with a regional minister behind the act, all they can do is grumble as they are doing in their rooms.