LOCAL NEWS
Garu, Tempane military attack: Pregnant women, children caned – Democracy Hub
Convenor of the #FixTheCountry and #OccupyJulorbiHouse movements, Democracy Hub, has condemned the recent incidents of gross human rights violations that took place in the towns of Garu and Tempane in the Upper East Region.
According to Democracy Hub, “these reprehensible actions are a part of a disturbing pattern of abuse and brutality by the Ghana Armed Forces against its own citizens, often with the apparent complicity of elected public officials”.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 9 November 2023, the human rights advocacy group called for immediate and comprehensive actions to address this crisis.
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The group is demanding “reforms, accountability and justice”.
“We demand that Parliament undertake meaningful reforms within the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure that they respect the rule of law, human rights, and the dignity of all citizens,” the group asserted.
The group noted that: “Those responsible for these human rights abuses must be held accountable for their actions. This includes not only the military personnel involved but also any public officials who may have been complicit or condoned these actions” and justice and reparations for the victims stressing that, “the government should ensure that victims are duly compensated, and those affected receive the necessary support for recovery.”
In its key findings, the human rights group further noted that: “The residents of Bugri reportedly suffered more severe forms of abuse, including physical assaults such as caning of pregnant women and children, with the ‘possibly-related’ reported death of three individuals.”
It revealed that: “Garu and Tempane were relatively peaceful neighborhoods, especially considering the ongoing conflicts in nearby Bawku. Community watchdog teams had been established to promote security.”
Touching on the impact of the incident on the communities, the findings reveal that “the incident had several notable effects on the affected communities” leading to an atmosphere of silence, where “residents reported feeling silenced due to the physical assaults and promises of military return. This has resulted in a fear of engaging in discussions with strangers.”
The findings further revealed that the incident has had an effect on work place productivity, disrupted daily lives and residents have been compelled to relocate.
“Some residents have temporarily relocated to nearby communities out of fear of potential military reprisals,” while “People have been unable to continue their regular daily routines, including market visits and group religious practices”.
It added that: “Productivity in formal workplaces has been impacted as employees are concerned about their personal security and that of their family members”.
The National Peace Council (NPC) has called on Ghanaians to live harmoniously with each other to safeguard the country’s peace.
It has urged Ghanaians to protect “the peace and security of the country by creating and using avenues of tolerance, cooperation, and coexistence to sustain the country’s identity as an oasis of peace in Africa.”
This follows the unfortunate violent clashes in some parts of the country which have resulted in the deaths of some citizens.
Reports from Kintampo in the Bono East Region, Nkwanta in the Oti Region, and Wenchiki in the Northeast Region indicate that violence has led to the destruction of lives and property in these affected communities.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NPC reminded Ghanaians “of paragraphs (c), (d) and (i) of
article 41 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana which states thus: The exercise and enjoyment of rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of duties and obligations, and accordingly, it shall be the duty of every citizen.”
“To foster national unity and live in harmony with others; to respect the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of others, and generally to refrain from doing acts detrimental to the welfare of other persons. To co-operate with lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order.”
Read the full statement from the NPC here
citinewsroom.com
LOCAL NEWS
Defence and National Security Ministers to appear before parliament today over Kintampo clash
The Ministers of Defence and National Security are expected to appear before the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament on Thursday, November 23, to provide a briefing on actions being taken by the government to forestall a clash between the Mo and Wangara tribes in the Kintampo North municipality.
This comes on the back of a summons by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
According to the Member of Parliament for the area, Joseph Kwame Kumah, tensions were high when the Mo tribe requested to perform rituals within the months of November and December, coinciding with the annual Klubi festival of the Wangara community.
In response to calls for a ceasefire by the MP, the Speaker directed that the government must take immediate steps to ensure peaceful coexistence.
“As the first authorities to come to this house to brief the committee on Defense and Interior, this is an urgent matter that should be handled with dispatch. I think Thursday should be okay for the two ministers and their commanders to appear before the committee early tomorrow morning by 9 am to brief the committee. It is an urgent matter.”
“The National Security Council through their regional office should immediately intervene because the chieftaincy institution is one of the cornerstones of the peace and security of our country, and we hold that institution dearly. We will do everything to prevent that institution from falling into disarray,” he stated.
citinewsroom.com
Some staff of a popular loan company, Quick Credit Ghana, stormed a local restaurant to recover a loan sum.
Videos available to GhanaWeb and shared on social media showed over half a dozen male workers in violent exchanges with the staff at the restaurant said to be located at Laterbiokoshie, a suburb of Accra.
According to a person videoing the encounter, the staff had forced their way into the facility, packed up the furniture and succeeded in locking up the place before leaving.
The video, shot in the evening, however, did not show any affected customers nor did it show any casualties.
The company has yet to issue an official statement on the development. GhanaWeb is also trying to reach out to the affected businesses.
Watch the video below:
ghanaweb.com
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