Soldiers are a strange bunch. After Wa Islamic High School students turned violent in protest against increased school fees, soldiers took seconds to do what police and teachers could not handle - meting out 'official' violence to counter the students' agitation.

Two of the students  were rushed to the hospital for revival after the soldiers allegedly assaulted them. They invaded domitories and forced the students to kiss the sand as they lay flat on the school park.

The over-enthusiasm of the military in quelling students' protest cannot go uncondemned. For young exuberant civilians, many of whom do not have the right to vote, this kind of force is too crude for the image of a 21st century security service.

Security services should learn to keep the peace and keep the students in one piece. Unless Ghana is Afghanistan, this can't be too much to ask.