Ghana Armed Forces Central Commander Brigadier General Joseph Aphour, has explained to the 3-man committee investigating circumstances that led to the death of two youngsters in Ejura, why security operatives deployed to restore order during the Tuesday June 29, 2021 demonstration, fired at protestors.
Making his appearance before the committee On Wednesday July 7, 2021, the Brigadier General told the Commission of Inquiry that, reports he received from the ground minutes before the incident suggested that some of the agitating youngsters fired rounds at security agencies, hence provoked a response from military.
After assessing the situation, he claims that military were left with no choice except to return fire.
“We began by issuing a verbal warning, as is customary in the military. They didn’t listen, so we fired warning shots. I believe that when we fired the warning shots, we noticed that some people were then firing within the crowd, and it was getting too terrible at that point. I believe the commander at that point had to use minimum force by attempting to maim those who were involved. So, as you can see, we didn’t have quick deaths; they were rushed to the hospital, and we later learned that two of them had died,” he explained to the committee.
Brigadier General Aphour went on to say that two people brandishing firearms were apprehended and turned over to police.
Despite strong criticism from Ghanaians, the Central Commander was unapologetic about the military’s use of live bullets. He insisted that the rules of engagement allow the military to use live bullets if required.
“When we take over at that point, we have a crowd dispersal procedure that we follow. And once all the moderate methods have been exhausted, one of the procedures includes the use of live bullets,” he continued.
Lt. Col Kwasi Ware Peprah, the commander who led the battalion to Ejura, told the committee that the aggressive demeanor of the youth pushed the security services to use force.
