Hundreds of residents of Ashaiman who fell victim to the military brute force on Tuesday, March 7, are calling for justice and immediate compensation.

The victims led by political and traditional authorities are asking President Akufo-Addo as matter of urgency to do the needful.

They disclosed this at a media briefing at Taifa, a suburb of Ashaiman and attended by Joy News. The briefing was dubbed ‘Ashaiman Lives Matter’.  

A spokesperson for conveners of the meeting, Emmanuel Kumadey who is a lawyer extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the 21-year-old trooper, Imoro Sherrif who was callously murdered in the area.

He also condemned the young soldier’s killing.

In a speech read on behalf of the victims, their families and the people of Ashaiman, he called on the president to immediately release all victims in the custody of the military.  

On Wednesday, Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in a statement stated that the intelligence-led operation at Ashaiman was sanctioned by the Military High Command which aimed at those who preyed on the life of Imoro Sherrif.

Although GAF insisted the swoop was not targeted at innocent civilians, the victims, their families and residents say the excessive force used by the personnel targeting almost everyone on Tuesday belied the claim.  

As a result, Emmanuel Kumadey on behalf of the people who were clad in red, is demanding an unqualified apology from President Akufo-Addo as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

He asked the president to set up a committee to investigate the attacks carried out by the soldiers and punish the culprits accordingly.

They also demanded that the president directs the Minister for Defence to pay for all damaged properties of Ashaiman residents caused by the uniformed personnel.

They also touched on compensation for all victims as well as provision of streetlights in all communities of Ashaiman as darkness played a major role in the death of the soldier.

For the conveners, victims and their families, justice delayed will be justice denied.

They are calling on the Ghana Bar Association, religious bodies, and civil society organisations, among others, to join hands in condemning the unjustifiable acts of the armed personnel.

The speech drew a comparison between the country’s colonial past and what the military meted out to the residents.

They said this is not the first attack on the residents and that they are fed up with the military.

Present at the briefing were the Regent of Ashaiman, Nii Annan Adjor, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Ernest Norgbey, former MP, Alfred Agbesi, former MP, Togbe Aheto, Constituency chair for NPP, Alexander Amanor Nagbeku, victims and families among other conveners.