Garu attack: There were some excesses in military operation – National Security Minister admits

The National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, has admitted that the military engaged in excesses when they stormed Garu after some national security operatives were allegedly attacked by residents.

Members of Parliament for Garu and Tempane have been demanding a parliamentary probe after their residents were allegedly brutalized by military men deployed to the area.

Delivering a statement in Parliament on the matter, Mr. Dapaah told MPs that despite the admitted excesses, he is unable to give a detailed brief because the matter is currently before the court.

“In the aftermath of the joint operation, reports have been made in respect of some excesses by the personnel who conducted the operation. This aspect of the matter is currently before the court; it will therefore be inappropriate to comment on the matter as it would amount to contempt of court,” he said.

He therefore urged parliamentarians to exercise introspection in discussing the matter based on the following:

• The dire security situation the country is confronted with in Bawku is due to existing ethnic conflict in the area.
• Counter-terrorism operations are going on in the area.
• There is a need not to demotivate and demoralize our state security personnel.

He added that an attack on military personnel in the course of their legitimate duties in any other jurisdiction would be classified as an attack on the state.

But the MP for Garu, Albert Alalzuuga, who reiterated his quest for a parliamentary probe, demanded compensation for the victims.

He also revealed that one of the victims had died after his skull was broken.

“The one who died, according to the autopsy report, had a broken skull and two broken ribs. If this is how the military retrieves arms, we would want to find out how many arms were retrieved from Garu, Temapane, if there are any at all,” he demanded.

He also called on the government to ensure that the military is not trained for internal security, adding that “it is not their work and so if you use them to do the wrong exercise, they will give you the wrong result.”

On his part, the Minority Spokesperson of Defense and Interior, James Agalga, addressing journalists, described the action of the military as collective punishment.

According to him, collective punishment is archaic and has no place under Ghana’s constitutional dispensation.

He also demanded to know who gave the order for the military to be deployed.