Aggrieved residents on the Nuumo Gozi Avenue, near Ability Square, at Ajiringanor, in the Adentan Municipality of the Greater Accra region, have petitioned the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, over the use of soldiers for private guard duties in the area.
The petition, written on their behalf by their lawyers, Dalrymple Hayfron Law Consult and copied to the police and others said, whilst there is a pending suit against Lotus Gardens & Events Centre at the High Court about noise pollution, it was imperative that their (Ghana Armed Forces) attention was drawn to the order that falls directly under his (CDS) control.
The following is the full petition;
We write on behalf of our Clients, “Concerned Residents on the Nuumo Gozi Avenue”, near Ability Square, in Adjiringanor, East Legon.
Our instructions are that the above mentioned company has been engaging the services of some soldiers to intimidate residents of the neighbourhood.
There is a pending suit at the Adenta High Court against the said company and its operators for noise nuisance/ pollution.
Several complaints have also been filed against the said company to the East Legon District Command of the Ghana Police Service, the Accra Regional Police Command, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Adentan Municipal Assembly.
It is against this background that the company engages soldiers any time the company holds commercial events at its premises.
We are also instructed that these soldiers are engaged privately and are not formally deployed through the appropriate administrative channel. On one occasion, three officers clothed in official military attire were deployed to one of such events.
On all other occasions, the soldiers have been deployed wearing plain clothes and wielding arms in this entirely civilian neighbourhood, thereby creating an unnecessary and alarming sense of militarisation.
On a few occasions, warning shots have been fired by these soldiers to “maintain the peace”, even though there was no real or perceived danger, except that which could arise from the fear and panic that the presence and use of these soldiers could cause within the neighbourhood.
While we understand and appreciate the vital role the Ghana Armed Forces plays in safeguarding our nation, it appears that these soldiers are engaged privately and do not provide their services to the said company in an official capacity, nor report to their superiors in an official capacity.
Such conduct not only fosters an atmosphere of fear, but also undermines the trust that should exist between the military and civilians. We believe that the community should feel secure with the presence of soldiers and not threatened.
If the operations of this company are lawful and do not flout any laws or public policy, there should not be the need for military protection of a private company. The presence and use of soldiers in the neighbourhood should provide protection for the larger community, rather than the company.
We are instructed by our Clients to bring these issues to your attention and to request for a thorough investigation, which we hereby do.
In addition, we request for immediate corrective action in a manner consistent with the principles of civilian-military relations.
We believe that your prompt action on this matter shall enhance the safety and security of all residents in the vicinity and also contribute to the positive image of the Ghana Armed Forces in the community.
Yours Sincerely,
Amy Dalrymple-HayfronEsq.
(Counsel for Aggrieved Residents)
