Families of victims of military misconduct have been urged to take legal action against the Ghana Armed Forces leadership if they fail to cooperate with police investigations into the Nyinahin shooting incident.
Speaking on Bullet TV’s News Night hosted by Nana Yaw Fianko (The Speaker), Security Expert, Nana Appiah Owusu described the shooting as a clear case of unprofessional conduct, stressing the need for full collaboration between the military and the police.
“A soldier picked a weapon, pointed it directly into a crowd, and pulled the trigger, causing the death of a young man. This was highly unprofessional,” – Mr. Owusu stated.
He cautioned the military high command against shielding the implicated soldier, adding that true justice and public confidence would only be achieved if investigations are thorough and impartial.
“I want to see collaboration, a thorough investigation, and punishment where necessary. The military must send a strong signal that they will not cover wrongdoing,” – he said.
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Private Legal Practitioner Richard Nii Armaah also emphasized that the military has no authority to obstruct police investigations.
According to him, the police have the sole mandate to maintain internal law and order, including the arrest of military personnel who break domestic laws.
“The military are trained for combat, not for maintaining law and order,” Lawyer Nii Armaah explained. “If the military leadership refuses to release the offending officer, families can sue the military command itself for damages.”
He argued that lawsuits affecting the military’s budget would serve as a deterrent and force commanders to discipline their personnel appropriately.
“When the leadership is made to feel the consequences financially, they will act quickly to prevent further unprofessional behavior,” – he added.
The call follows public outrage after a military officer allegedly shot and killed a young man during a clash with residents at Nyinahin.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu