Our action on Ashaiman was not an invasion but intelligence-led swoop-GAF

Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is standing by its dehumanizing action in Ashaiman within the Greater Accra Region on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, which has left several residents with injuries.

Residents were subjected to severe beatings by soldiers following the mob attack on one of their men leading to his untimely death. According to GAF, its invasion of Ashaiman which was sanctioned by the Military High Command was not to avenge the killing of a soldier but rather to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime. GAF said the aim of the invasion was a man-hunt for suspected criminals who stabbed and killed the young soldier, Trooper Imoro Sherrif in the early hours of Saturday 4th March 2023, at Ashaiman-Taifa. Trooper Sherrif, who was stationed in Sunyani, was in Accra on a programme and had sought permission to visit his parents at Ashaiman where he grew up, but was found in a pool of blood in the early hours of Saturday near the Amania Hotel in Ashaiman. In a statement released by GAF and signed by Brigadier General E Aggrey-Quashie, Director General Public Relations states that the operations at Ashaiman-Taifa and Tulaku have led to the arrest of about 184 suspects aged between 21 and 47 years and have since been handed over to the Military Police and subsequently to be sent to the Ghana Police Service for screening and further action. It further states that the personnel also seized 29 slabs and 57 mini slabs of suspected Indian hemp and amnesia among other forms of narcotics. “We wish to place on record that the swoop was not targeted at innocent civilians but was an intelligence–led operation conducted on suspected hideouts of criminals and crime-prone areas in the general area. “GAF however acknowledges that regrettably some innocent persons might have been caught up in the operation and consequently suffered some distress due to the location they found themselves at the time,” according to GAF. GAF accordingly is urging the general public to provide useful information to support the security agencies in weeding out criminals and miscreants from the communities and to desist from shielding and conniving with such suspects to curb criminal activities in the country.