Our soldiers must not be perceived as brutish – Veep

Vice President John Dramani Mahama (behind) lectern addressing Muslims at the Independence Square Vice President John Dramani Mahama says recent reports of civilian humiliation in Bawku and Nalerigu must not stoke the perception that the military is brutish. Mr Mahama’s comments follows the huge public outcry that greeted the alleged stripping naked of two suspected gunmen in Bawku and the gang-raping of a 19-year-old apprentice in Nalerigu by soldiers deployed there to maintain peace. Mr Mahama described the two incidents as regrettable but insisted they were “isolated” and must not be used to soil the reputation of the military the country has built for itself. The vice president said this when he addressed an assembly of Muslims at this year’s Eid ul Adha special prayers at the Independence Square in Accra. He explained that sometimes “the frustration [of the soldiers] gets to them” resulting in such incidents, but hinted that the government would investigate the reports and bring to book those found culpable of the offenses. The vice president also used the occasion to urge the people of Bawku to use the occasion of the celebration of the Eid ul Adha festival to reflect on the sporadic mayhem that has characterized the town over the years. He said that violence in the northern Ghana town has stalled efforts to develop the area and has deprived the people of essential services – health, educational among others. Mr Mahama said the Muslim community in the area “must ask themselves” if indeed “the Bawku they want” is what they have now, suggesting that although government would always try to restore peace, the people themselves must see external help as a mere adjunct to their own efforts. Vice President John Mahama also bemoaned the smuggling of arms and ammunition into the area and urged the smugglers to desist from such acts which he said threaten peace and security in the area. He also urged more focus, in the Muslim community, on education, stressing, education is the key to growth and success as a country. Mr Mahama said the Muslim community must “prioritise education” as government works to secure sustainable growth and development for the country. The Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuru Sharubutu used the occasion to thank the government for ensuring that this year’s Hajj was a success. The Eid-ul Adha celebration is a major festival in the Islamic calendar and remembers the prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to do so. Three white rams and a bull were slaughtered to symbolise prophet Ibraham’s special sacrifice. Several hundreds of Muslims swarmed the Independence Square to mark the occasion. Perhaps the most conspicuous personality there was former vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama who was there to grace the occasion. Alhaji Mahama exchanged pleasantries with other officials there. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana