Day one of the partial lockdown in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi, parts of Kasoa in the central region as well as Tema, simultaneously recorded varied cases of assaults and brutalities by some personnel by the joint military and police command who were deployed to maintain law and order.
Ahotor news’ (ahotoronline.com /92.3 fm) reporter in Ashaiman, Albert Chitham ,reported that a 60 years old woman ( Name Withheld ) was subjected to unprovoked beatings by some members of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) for defying the President’s order over the lockdown which took effect on Monday, as part of measures to curtail the spread of the global pandemic.
Scores of market folks who for lack of inadequacy of information dissemination by both government and local authorities over the lockdown operation to combat the spread of the deadly covid 19 pandemic, received blatant beatings in the shock of the lives in the hands of security operatives who unleashed mayhem on them for going contrary to the operational orders by the state , which directed persons living in the aforementioned regions and towns to stay away indoors and desist from engaging in economic activities and bricks businesses, especially within under listed business districts of the country.
Trading activities came to a standstill, amid panic shopping by scores of shoppers who opined to newsmen that, prices of goods would possibly escalates and hence the need for them to improvise for their families, ahead of the anticipated lockdown over the coronavirus.
The Partial lockdown saw designated coded areas in Accra, Tema and Kumasi, as well as Parts of Kasoa virtually deserted. There was no vehicular traffic, and street hawking activities, around the nooks and crannies in the regions, as compared to normal rush hours.
The 60 years embattled old woman who suffered heckling amid beatings from the hands of security men at Ashaiman revealed as follows ” i drop my basket here awaiting for my daughter to bring me the basket so that we can both pick dropping home. From nowhere, some group of men appeared and started beating me with a cane, and saying asking about what i am i doing here, in fact i was not selling , and was only waiting for the arrival of my daughter so that we pick dropping home”
” I sell pear” She explained and narrated her ordeal to Ahotor news.
These and many other questionable conducts by some of the police cum military men on operation is across board following civilian security brutalities over the lockdown.
However the observation is contrary to earlier prepositions by both hierarchy’s of the military and police command who avowed that personnel who would be dispatched to carry out with the lockdown orders are mindful of the democratic nature of the exercise, in addition to laid down humanitarian guidelines.
Security capos who briefed pressmen ahead of the lockdown, promised and pledged to discharge their lawful duties, with depths of professional touch and technical disposition, devoid of unwarranted assault and brutalities on ordinary Ghanaians.
Nana Dogbe / Ahotor news
