The Minister of Defense, Dominic Nitiwul, has admonished Ghanaians to respect personnel of the various security agencies. 

The Minister said this is fundamental in building a strong relationship between the security personnel and civilians. 

According to the Bimbilla lawmaker, this will also prevent the constant reprisal attacks these officers mete out to civilians for either disrespecting or attacking them. 

“I will appeal to the people of Ghana to be respectful of people in uniform, it will help all of us," he cautioned.

Addressing the press on Thursday, Mr. Nitiwul said he will not speak on the matter again until he and members of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament have visited the affected communities. 

His comment comes on the back of the invasion of Ashaiman by some soldiers after the killing of a young military officer. The soldiers brutalised several residents in the hope of finding the killers of the soldier.

A large number of uniformed soldiers invaded parts of Ashaiman on Tuesday dawn, following the murder of a young soldier, Imoro Sherrif, on Saturday dawn at Ashaiman-Taifa.

Footages shared on social media show armed military personnel brutalising residents.

However, the Ghana Armed Forces has said the operation was merely a swoop in a man-hunt for some criminals and not for vengeance.

According to GAF, “the military operation, which was sanctioned by the Military High Command, was NOT to avenge the killing of the soldier but rather to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.”

They added that their “swoop” had led to the arrest of about 184 suspects aged between 21 and 47 years old and they have since handed them over to the military police who will subsequently send them over to the Ghana Police Service for screening and further action.

Meanwhile, 150 out of the 184 individuals arrested by the military in a swoop have been released.

But this act has been condemned by well meaning Ghanaians inasmuch as they also condemned the killing of the military officer.  

Meanwhile, the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament together with the Ministry of Defense and the Military High Command will pay a visit to the Ashaiman community on Thursday, March 16.

Also speaking to journalists, the Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee, Kennedy Agyapong said the outcome of the visit will inform the Committee of its next line of action.