Ghana’s Deputy Defence Minister, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, has apologized for military excesses following the deployment of soldiers early Tuesday in Ashaiman, a suburb of Accra.
The deployment came after a young soldier was allegedly stabbed to death in the area by unknown assailants.
Social media users have shared images and videos of alleged soldiers’ brutality against civilians during the operation.
“If decent, innocent residents of Ashaiman were caught up in these operations, I apologize in my capacity as deputy defense minister,” Mr. Amankwa-Manu said in an interview with a local TV station.
“It is only proper that we admit when there are excesses in such operations. But we’re not going to apologize for [carrying out]the operations.”
Mr. Amankwa-Manu said the operation was sanctioned by the military high command “to bring to book the perpetrators of this heinous crime”.
According to a local MP, 72 people were apprehended during the operation.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have yet to respond.
