By Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has strongly condemned the tragic shooting of a soldier at Millennium City in Gomoa East, Central Region, amidst a land dispute.
The military officer, reported to be in his late 30s, was fatally shot on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at approximately 4:20 pm, while two of his colleagues managed to escape unharmed.
Police have apprehended a suspect, Benlord Ababio, in connection with the shooting.
During the World Press Freedom Day 2024 observance at the Koforidua Technical University on Friday, May 3, the GJA President denounced the soldier’s murder as an “depth of insanity.”
“The media have the mandate to uphold the 1992 Constitution and that includes the human rights provisions under Chapter 5 of the Constitution. It is on the basis of such mandate that we totally condemn the recent killing of a soldier at Millennium City near Kasoa over a land dispute.
“To attack and kill a soldier without provocation is the depth of insanity any human being can sink to. Under normal circumstances, the military would have launched a reprisal attack on Millennium City by now, and whenever they did so, they were condemned for violating the rights of innocent people.”
He commended the military for demonstrating restraint in the aftermath of their colleague’s murder and urged the public to honor and refrain from assaulting security officers.
“While commending the military for exercising restraint in the face of extreme provocation, we call on the Police to investigate the matter as quickly as possible and prosecute the killer. We also appeal to the general public to respect security officers and refrain from attacking them,” he urged.
Mr. Dwumfour further urged Ghanaians to acknowledge and value the contributions of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
“Let me take this occasion to urge all Ghanaians to appreciate officers of the Ghana Armed Forces, who have played an important part in our country’s stability. They also safeguard our country’s territorial integrity, and we must always support them.”
