Ghana’s Deputy Defence Minister, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, has apologised for military excesses following the deployment of soldiers early Tuesday in Ashaiman, a suburb of Accra. The deployment came after a young soldier was allegedly stabbed to death in the area by unknown assailants.
Users on social media have been sharing images and videos of alleged soldiers’ brutality during the operation.
“If decent, innocent residents of Ashaiman were caught up in these operations, I, in my capacity as deputy defence minister, I apologise for that, ” Mr Amankwa-Manu said in an interview with a local TV.
“It is only proper that we admit when there are excesses in operations of this nature. But we are not going to apologise for [undertaking] the operations.”
Mr Amankwa-Manu said the operation was sanctioned by the military high command “to bring to book the perpetrators of this heinous crime”.
According to a local MP, 72 people were apprehended during the operation. The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have yet to respond.