Release the innocent Ashaiman residents-GAF told

Convenors of the Ashaiman Lives Matter are calling for an immediate release from the military custody residents who have been held.

Soldiers unlawfully broke into the houses of residents of Ashaiman, dragged residents out of their beds, and brutalized them causing excessive damage to lives and livelihood. As if that was not enough, they kidnapped some 400 people and unlawfully took them to Burma Camp. A development, the Ashaiman Lives Matter convenors condemned in all uncertain terms and called for an immediate release of same. Addressing a press conference earlier today, the Lead Convenor, Lawyer Emmanuel Kumadey indicated that the people of Ashaiman are living in a state of fear and panic for their dear lives as the military has disclosed their intention of terrorizing the people in what they termed, "One-month Operation with express instructions from above to put the "fear of God" in them to avenge the murder of the fallen soldier". "The irony about the whole incident, Lawyer Emmanuel Kumadey not it disgraceful as the military brutality on Ashaiman happened less than 48 hours after celebrating the country's independence from colonial rule. "It appears the country has replaced the foreign oppressor with an indigenous one", Lawyer Kumadey bemoaned in a statement. The military's attack on the people of Ashaiman was a reprisal attack as a result of the mob attack on a young soldier leading to his untimely death. But the convenors said the incident was unfortunate therefore calling on the president, H. E. Nana Addo Danquah Akofo-Addo to compel the leadership of the military to render an unqualified apology to the people of Ashaiman. " We also call on the media, civil societies, professional bodies such as Ghana Bar Association, and Religious bodies among others to also join us in condemning the violent criminal acts of the soldiers", he added. The convenors could not understand why the military consistently and persistently leverages the fragility of the people of Ashaiman to unleash their wrath adding that Ashaiman is not a military training ground. "If citizens cannot sleep peacefully in the comfort of their homes in a somewhat Democratic country, where else should they find peace?", he quizzed. The New Patriotic Party(NPP) Constituency Chairman for Ashaiman, Nene Alexander Narh Amanor said while condemning the murdering of the young soldier, the party equally will not side with the nefarious act of brutality by the soldiers. According to him, the law mandates victims of an unfortunate situation to lodge a complaint with the police for investigation and apprehension of perpetrators but for the soldiers to have taken the law into their own hands and brutalized unarmed civilians was criminal and unacceptable. The Reagent of Ashaiman, Nii Annan Adjor explained that no two wrongs make a right therefore the action of some youth though regrettable, just as that of the military. He said the act of the soldiers just like that of the citizens, were both regrettable and urged that no one tows that path. Former Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Honorable Franklin Aheto also lacks words to describe the action of the military adding, " it is disgraceful". He recounted that a citizen was shot down under a bizarre circumstances by a military officer during the peak of the lockdown without any provocation yet no message was heard from the military High Command and the government. He said people living in Ashaiman are not animals but human beings for that matter therefore deserve the best and equal humane treatment. He expressed disappointment at the statement of the deputy defense minister that the government will not apologize asking, " Does it mean the government sanctioned the barbaric act?".