At least one person was injured after a shooting incident at a funeral ground in Atwima Agogo near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The shooting happened on Saturday at about 12:45pm at a funeral ground forcing mourners to flee for safety, Dailymailgh.com can report.
Police at Abuakwa has named the suspect as Kofi Gyebi, a resident of Abuakwa/Maakro and is appealing for credible information leading to his arrest.
He is reported to have fired indiscriminately at the event injuring one Dennis Adomako, 27, who sought to question the motive behind the act.
Adomako, who sustained severe gunshot wounds at his left thigh, was rushed to the Abuakwa Health Center for medical attention but was later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
Officers who visited the victim reported that he could not talk to them as he was in serious pain.
They have since visited the scene as investigations begin into the “serious†crime.
he Ghana Armed Forces has said the four crew members and four military personnel on board the Ghana Air Force helicopter that performed an emergency landing at Ganvuliga in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region were successfully recovered without fatalities nor injuries.
It said there were no civilians on board and no damage nor injuries to property and people on the ground and that the landing site has since been secured and efforts were underway to recover the aircraft.
The incident happened while the crew were returning from Wa to Tamale, a statement signed by Colonel E Aggrey-Quashie, the Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces and copied to the Ghana News Agency, has said.
It said the crew landed after observing a malfunction of the tail rotor system, which provides anti-torque and directional control to the aircraft.
The statement said the Kumbungu District Chief Executive and the local community were also providing the necessary assistance to the recovery team. “A Preliminary Investigation Team (PIT) has been constituted and is currently on-site to conduct a full assessment of the damage to the aircraft to allow recovery to Air Force Base, Tamale,†it said.
It said the manufacturers of the aircraft, China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) based in China, and their local representatives, have been informed of the incident and were providing all the necessary technical support.
It said the aircraft was one of four helicopters that were delivered to the Ghana Air Force in 2015.
The statement commended the crew for their quick judgement and timely intervention for flying the helicopter to a safe emergency landing.
A new regiment known as 154 Armoured Regiment has been launched within the setup of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The first commanding officer, Lt Col. Kofi Obiri Yeboah, will be based in Sunyani in the Bono region.
The regiment was created out of the two Independent Reconnaissance Squadron which was part of the 153 Armoured Regiment.
The GAF has been undertaking expansion for the past few years. After the introduction of the 154 armoured regiments, General Officer Commanding, Central Command, Brigadier General J.A Aphour said the Ghana Armed Forces was taking steps to enhance its commands ahead of the 2020 general elections.
He further said that, “the ongoing drive will see the creation of commands, units, and sub-units and also upgrading of existing sub-units to full-fledged units such as the 154 Armoured Regimentâ€, and that “this development is particularly important because of the creation of additional regions.â€
Brigadier General Aphour, the formation Commander, urged the new commanding officer, Lt Col. Yeboah to ensure the full realization of the dream of the 154 Armoured Regiment of Ghana.
Lt Col. William Anyimiah Kobby Ackah, who handed over to Lt Col. Obiri-Yeboah, urged him to build upon the capacity development, operational excellence, welfare and capability efficiency of the unit during his tenure of office.
“Priority was given to training, equipment efficiency and maintenance, administration and combat efficiency in order to achieve high morale of personnel, operational readiness and excellenceâ€, he stated, adding that with the support from officers of the unit, all operational commitments were achieved despite the challenges.
The General Officer Commanding, Central Command, Brigadier General J.A Aphour says the Ghana Armed Forces is taking steps to enhance its commands ahead of the 2020 general elections.
He also said, as Ghana continues to engage the threats of terrorism and insurgency along its frontiers, it is appropriate that the command upgrade its units to also enhance their combat capabilities.
Brigadier General Aphour said this during the occasion of the handing and taking over of 154 Armoured Regiment at the 3 Garrison in Sunyani.
The erstwhile 2 Independent Reconnaissance Squadron which was part of the 153 Armoured Regiment, was elevated to a Regiment and designated as the 154 Armoured Regiment on August 12, 2019 to provide armor support for Central Command and with additional responsibility for the Northern Command of the Ghana Army.
The newly out doored Regiment, thus becomes the second Armoured Regiment in Ghana, in addition to the 153 Armoured Regiment. Lt Col Kofi Obiri Yeboah becomes the first Commanding Officer of the 154 Armoured Regiment.
The Ghana Armed Forces, through its ongoing expansion drive, is positioning itself to effectively undertake its constitutional mandate and also to address the ever-changing security threats that confront the country.
To this end, Brigadier General Aphour echoed that “the ongoing drive will see the creation of commands, units, and sub-units and also upgrading of existing sub-units to full-fledged units such as the 154 Armoured Regimentâ€, adding, “this development is particularly important because of the creation of additional regionsâ€.
He stated that, the upgrading is particularly important to the Central Command as the enduring qualities of the Armour, as a combat arm of decision, make it indispensable to combat formation.
He acknowledged opportunities and teething challenges such as infrastructure, manpower, equipment, and general logistics that will be associated with the new regiment, but assured that plans are underway to address those inadequacies in due course.
Brigadier General Aphour, the formation commander, urged the new commanding officer, Lt col Kofi Obiri Yeboah to focus more on the promise of hope, growth, and innovation the new Regiment brings while charging on the officers and men of the Regiment to rally solidly behind the Commanding officer to ensure the full realization of the dream of the 154 Armoured Regiment of Ghana.
He also assured that the headquarters central command, with oversight responsibilities over the regiment, will offer the needed assistance and support required.
Lt Col William Anyimiah Kobby Arkah, who handed over Command of the 154 Armoured Regiment acknowledged the effort of his predecessors, serving and retired personnel of the unit which has culminated in the expansion of the Armoured Corps.
He said he does not doubt that the new commanding officer, Lt Col Kofi Obiri Yeboah will excel in this appointment.
“I believe Kofi will find the way to firmly nature this Regiment to grow well. I will always be ready to support in whatever way when called uponâ€.
Aside from the Clergy, heads of Departments, Detachments, officers, Men, Women, and civilian employees of the 3 Garrison, other sister security heads such as the Bono Regional Commands of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Immigration Service also graced the occasion.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) says it has arrested four persons posing as officers of the service.
The four namely; AB1 Arhen Ebenezer, Mustapha Maurris, Oscar Eshun and Stephen Zubbuy Matsi were arrested between Tuesday, May 5 and Tuesday, May 12, 2020.
A statement issued and signed on behalf of the Director of Public Relations by R Omane-Agyei, Squadron Leader and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the first suspect, AB1 Arhen Ebenezer was arrested on Tuesday, May 5, by personnel from the Southern Command Headquarters of the GAF during a patrol at Katamanso in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality.
It said the suspect who was dressed in camouflage shorts and an olive-green vest, claimed to be at the Naval Base, Tema but further checks with the Eastern Naval Command for identification proved false.
“He was subsequently handed over to the Tema Regional Police Command for further investigations.”
It said further interrogation of AB1 Arhen Ebenezer led to the arrest of one Mustapha Maurris, another imposter who also posed as a soldier at Kpone.
Oscar Eshun, the third imposter, was arrested by the Naval Intelligence (NI) Operatives of the Western Naval Command (WNC) at Inchaban, a suburb of Sekondi-Takoradi, on Friday, May 8, for posing as military personnel.
The statement said a search of his residence at Essikado revealed a toy pistol, two Navy vests, two combat boots, a belt, Navy trousers and tracksuit, adding that the suspect was handed over to the Inchaban Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The fourth suspect, Stephen Zubbuy Matsi, 32-year old, was also arrested by Operatives from Defence Intelligence (GHQ DI) on Tuesday, May 12, at Pokuase ACP for posing as a soldier from the First Infantry Battalion (1 Bn), Tema for possessing a Ghana Armed Forces laminated Military Identity Card bearing the identity of a relative who is a serving Airman.
“Upon his arrest, the suspect confirmed that, he was not a soldier but had a picture of himself in military camouflage and an air blue uniform (of the Ghana Air Force) saved on his mobile phone. He also had a picture of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and some military personnel on his phone.”
The statement said further checks revealed that the suspect introduced himself to his girlfriend as a soldier in 2016 and subsequently visited her on two occasions in military uniform at Akatsi in the Volta Region.
“A search of his residence at Canada, a suburb of Ablekuma by the Operatives retrieved military camouflage trousers, a military pouch, a camouflage cap, two camouflage inner vests and a camouflage hip pouch.
“The suspect has been handed over to the Ghana Military Police for further action,” it added.
The statement urged the public who may had fallen victim to the activities of the suspects to contact the above-mentioned police stations to assist in investigations.
It further entreated the public to report any person(s) found in such suspicious characters to the nearest Police and Military Installation for investigations.
“GAF once again wishes to remind the public of the restriction on use of military uniforms and equipment under the National Liberation Council (NLC) Decree 177(1967),” it added.
Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says the job of the security officers will see some changes in the coming days. There have been calls for the redeployment of security officers to ensure people put on nose mask and also practice social distancing.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah speaking at a press briefing said even though there is no lockdown currently and security officials have been withdrawn, we will see them in the coming days ensuring that the new directives will be followed duly by citizens.
“There are new directives of wearing mask, social distancing among others, in the coming days the job of the security officers will change, they will be back to help enforce some of the new directives”.
The Ghana Medical Association has called for the police and military officers to be redeployed on the streets to ensure people wear nose mask and also practice social distancing.
The GMA believes that this is the only way to ensure COVID-19 does not spread now that the President has lifted the restriction of movement of persons in Accra and Kumasi.
Even though the partial lockdown of Accra and Kumasi has been lifted, President Akufo-Addo has advised that everyone puts on a nose mask and observe social distancing.
The Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah said they had a meeting with the regional security council and have agreed to enforce the wearing of the mask, he said residents who are seen in town without the mask will be sent back home.
Ghana’s case count as of April 19, 2020, was 1,042 with 9 deaths and 99 recoveries.
Dr Michael Owusu a virologist at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research says there is a need for security officers to be in town to enforce the wearing of masks and social distancing protocol.
Even though the partial lockdown of Accra and Kumasi has been lifted, President Akufo-Addo has advised that everyone puts on a nose mask and observe social distancing.
Dr Owusu says the lifting of the lockdown will make no impact if Ghanaians abuse it and refuse to observe all the necessary measures which have been provided by the Ghana Health Service.
He believes that now is the time we need the security officers more to enforce the wearing of masks and social distancing protocol.
“We should put in surveillance in all our public transport, if someone is infected and enters a public transport and we are doing contact tracing and you don’t have a list how do you do that. The disease is in the system and is trying to get hold of it and if that happens we will have a hike in people at the hospital. The police and all security officials must ensure that all the measures be followed, if you go out without a sanitizer or nose mask you must be sent back home, I don’t think the security leaving the streets now is the best decision”.
Residents in Accra and Kumasi are free to move about currently but have been advised to be very careful and observe all measures to ensure they do not contract COVID-19.
Ever since President Akufo-Addo announced the decision to lift the lockdown, there has been mixed reactions as some believe it is a good decision which will ease the financial burden on them.
Others also think this could have a negative effect on many as it could aid the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Ghana’s case count as of April 19, 2020, was 1,042 with 9 deaths and 99 recoveries.
There have been several reports of unprovoked abuse being meted out to people in some lockdown areas by security personnel.
Although authorities have come out to deny these allegations, videos of such acts continue to hit social media.
One such victim, Ismaila recounts his alleged brutal experience at the hands of military men whilst returning from the market after shopping for foodstuff for his evening meal.
