Deputy Defence Minister Kofi Amankwa-Manu has called on Ghanaians to protect the military institution.

According to him, should Ghanaians fail to protect the military that would be the end of the country.

“There is one institution we have in this country that every Ghanaian must make the effort to protect and that for me is the military.

"The very day we lose that thing about the military that will be the beginning and the end of our nation and we cannot do that. We simply cannot do that,” he said.

He was reacting to the murder of a young soldier man at Ashaiman some days ago by unknown assailants.

Following his death, soldiers sanctioned by the military high command raided parts of Ashaiman “to bring to book the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” Tuesday morning.

Some videos posted on social media from affected areas in Ashaiman show military men brutalizing residents.

According to the MP for the area, about 72 residents were rounded up and taken away to an unknown location.

Speaking on the matter, the Deputy Defence Minister said the operation was necessary because the “military is under attack and we cannot sit and fold our arms.”

“That it has suddenly become a crime to wear a uniform, you wear a uniform and then you become a threat...hitherto, even when a cop or members of the security agency board a public vehicle and you’re seated, you get up for them.

"This is a sign of respect for what the services they’re rendering for this country. But suddenly people begin to treat the security agencies with impunity and that is not acceptable, it’s unacceptable,” he added.

He has since apologized for the military's excesses but insists the military action was necessary.