I tend to think highly of Ghana’s military but sometimes the deeds of some of its members shake this viewpoint about them. Some of its members seem determined to act and behave just anyhow. And because such acts even when brought to the attention of the military high command appear to go unpunished, wanton military abuse continues.
In most cases of military abuse, one realizes that it is when events spiral to a powder keg (where one would anticipate a trained military officer to rise to the occasion: employing a disciplined, civilized approach in bringing situations under control) that the military employ extra judicial tactics.
A case in point is what recently transpired in Kumasi where it was reported that some police officers were beaten when they had correctly insisted that some military personnel join in the long vehicular queue the police was directing. This was a simple instruction the soldiers should have obliged, instead what did we witness: their legendary behaviour of brutal confrontation. (When least challenged or inconvenienced).
There is also the case of the driver who was subjected to the sight of cadavers as a punishment for an alleged traffic infraction by officers at the 37 military hospital. And now the disturbing front page story in the November 22, 2011 issue of the Daily Graphic, where reportedly both the military and the police are said to have engaged in assault and counter assaults.
I feel that as long as gross human rights violations and indiscipline by the military go unpunished military lawlessness will continue. And the prevailing situation where Regional Ministers intervene to broker “deals” between the police and the military command plus condemnation by the top hierarchy in the wake of such incidents only scratches the surface of the issue. It should cease!
To isolate the cancer of military brutalities and assaults on both civilians and the police, the military high command will need to see to it that wayward officers are punished as the law stipulates. As noted aptly by Kofi Akordor of the Daily Graphic in his column “we cannot afford room for concessions”, The high command of the military should be bold to discharge dishonorably wayward officers. This I believe would serve as a bright deterrent for others.
The Ghana Bar Association can also lend support by encouraging its numerous members to take up such cases of abuse (on a pro bono basis) by filing civil suits in our courts. By so doing, victims of such raw human right violations can reasonably be compensated. Civil suits resulting in the award of huge punitive damages against the military might also force the military establishment to sit up.
It is in no one’s interest that the needless show of might by the military continues. The Armed Forces ought to understand that the same constitution that “sired” it equally enjoins it to respect dissenting viewpoints from the public on how they carry out their functions.
And as distasteful and unpleasant as these viewpoints might be, it does not guarantee and license their use of draconian force. If they feel aggrieved by the “conduct” of a civilian or a police officer, the appropriate thing to do is not to resort to extra-judicial conflict resolution methods but rather employ a constitutionally sanctioned approach such as filing a complaint with the appropriate authority or probably suing in court.
This is the essence of our system of governance: DEMOCRACY. Only by operating within its confines at all times can we strengthen and promote it.
Emmanuel Asare Is a Citizen’s Activist.
Email: emmaasare92@yahoo.com