Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George has called for disciplinary action against a military officer accused of leading armed soldiers to seize trucks belonging to residents of the Ningo-Prampram Constituency without lawful authorisation.
The minister, who expressed anger over the incident, identified the officer as Lieutenant Albert Goh and accused him and his men of intimidating residents and abusing their authority.
According to Sam George, the soldiers allegedly entered the constituency heavily armed and took possession of several trucks without presenting any lawful order.
He described the operation as resembling armed robbery and warned that any soldier who returned to the area to brutalise residents would be held accountable.
In remarks on the incident, the minister directed strong words at Lieutenant Goh, describing his alleged conduct as a disgrace to the Ghana Armed Forces.
“Any soldier who comes to Ningo-Prampram to brutalise the people of Ningo-Prampram again, you will face the law of the streets. The streets. Because it means you have breached your oath as a soldier,” he warned.
He further called on the Chief of Defence Staff to take disciplinary action against the lieutenant, insisting that the officer’s alleged actions had brought the military into disrepute.
“And to Lieutenant Albert Goh, who came here yesterday with his men, this is a warning to you. It should be your last time because you are a disgrace to the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.
The minister also disclosed the officer’s military identification number as 5666 and urged the military leadership to investigate the matter.
Sam George’s criticism centred on allegations that the soldiers had taken trucks belonging to residents and kept the vehicles for an extended period without lawful authority.
“Picking weapons from the Ghana Armed Forces armory, coming here, seizing the trucks of citizens without any lawful order, driving that truck for two weeks, somebody’s property. You are a thief,” he said.
He added that he would engage the Minister of Defence to ensure that the matter was referred to the appropriate military authorities and that those involved faced disciplinary proceedings if found culpable.
The minister also raised concerns about the alleged conduct of the soldiers towards local police officers during the incident.
He claimed that a police commander, who held the rank of Chief Superintendent, was disrespected when he attempted to engage the military personnel. He further alleged that some soldiers cocked their weapons at the police officer.
“Who are you? Is that what you were trained to do in the Ghana Armed Forces? As an officer of the Ghana Armed Forces?” Sam George asked.
He said the identities of the soldiers involved had been established and insisted that residents of Ningo-Prampram deserved justice.
The minister maintained that he would pursue the matter through the military’s disciplinary system, adding that the Defence Ministry would be engaged to ensure accountability.
The allegations and the minister’s demands now place attention on the military authorities and whether an investigation will be initiated into the reported seizure of the trucks and the conduct of the personnel involved.
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