Torgbui Amenya Fiti V, Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional Area on Monday called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to call military personnel to treat the people at Aflao with civility.
He also asked the President to ensure that the people went about their daily activities without hindrances.
The paramount chief made the call at a News conference in his palace at Aflao following the deployment of security personnel along the Aflao-Lome border.
He said the presence of the troops is causing fear and panic amongst the inhabitants as the military embark on house to house searches and “brutalizing of motor bikers within the towns.”
Togbe Fiti said the harassment of citizens occupying the border towns was having detrimental effects on agriculture and socio-economic activities.
“Brutalizing of innocent civilians is frown on by the Constitution of Ghana. Even Prisoners of War are protected by The Hague Convention let alone civilians going about their lawful business,” he added.
Togbe Fiti said the Government could not “allow its troops to brutalize its own citizens without recourse to justice whilst lamenting George Floyds’ passing at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis (USA),” adding that they were peace loving and believed in Ghana’s “Freedom and Justice” for all.
He stated that, The Aflao Traditional Council, together with all the security agencies within Ketu South Municipality supported the Government in its implementation of the protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and the records are there to prove that the Municipal Security Council, MUSEC, is on top of security in the municipality.
Togbe Fiti said it should be noted that “silence in the face of brutality being dished out to innocent citizens around the municipality only goes to embolden the aggressor”.
He said those who were fortunate to get jobs in Lome (Togo)-the Kayaye and truck pushers were “languishing at home” due the border closure and appealed to the President to heed their call.
Meanwhile commenting on the vexed issue of the deployment of security personnel at the countries frontiers in an Address to the nation on Monday, President Akufo-Addo stated that the development was not intended “to intimidate or prevent eligible Ghanaians from registering to vote in December.”
Rather, the move is to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity, stem the influx of undesireable elements from neighbouring troubled states, and ensure peace, security and stability of Ghana.
He said “In total, 207 soldiers have been deployed along the borders of the Upper East Region; 110 soldiers in the Northern Region; 102 in the North East Region; 98 in the Volta Region; 72 in the Oti Region; 69 in the Upper West Region; 64 in the Bono Region; 21 in the Savannah Region and 14 in the Western Region.”
