The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has issued a strongly-worded press release stating that they would resort to the use of force as a defensive measure following an attack on a Navy base in Tema by some youth during the Ga festival known as Kplejoo.
The clash, reportedly instigated by the marauding youth, led to the loss of two unidentified individuals on the evening of Friday, April 12, 2024.
As tensions rose near the Eastern Naval Command, confrontations broke out between the youth and naval ratings stationed there. A group targeted a vehicle from the Eastern Naval Command, causing significant damage.
Three navy personnel on board the vehicle sustained serious injuries and were promptly taken to the Tema Naval Base Medical Centre for treatment, as stated in the GAF release on Saturday, April 13.
Additionally, GAF reported that a mob attacked both the Tema Naval Base and the Naval Barracks at Tema New Town (Biekro Barracks) on the same day, resulting in property damage.
GAF has therefore cautioned the youth that any future assaults on their facilities or staff will be met with a suitable and forceful reaction. See below for full statement:
A vehicle belonging to the Eastern Naval Command of the Ghana Navy was attacked by a crowd partaking in an ongoing festival at Tema Newtown at about 7:53pm on Friday, 12 April 2024 leading to the damage of the vehicle.
Three of the Naval personnel onboard the vehicle also sustained severe injuries and were sent to the Tema Naval Base Medical Centre for treatment. In the course of the confrontation three suspects were arrested by the naval personnel.
They were subsequently handed over to the Tema Newtown District Police for further investigations. A mob, suspected to be part of the participants in the festivities, later attacked the Tema Naval Base with stones and other implements with the aim of releasing their colleagues.
At a stage, the security of the Base was threatened, and in order to protect the sensitive installations in the Base, warning shots were fired to repel the attack. It was later reported by the Police that two civilians were brought to the Tema General Hospital dead.
The cause of death is yet to be ascertained. Again, on Saturday 13 April 2024, the mob attacked the Tema Naval Base and the Naval Barracks at Tema New Town (Biekro Barracks), leading to the destruction of property. The Ghana Police Service in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces have commenced investigations into the incident.
Findings of the investigations would be made available in due course. The Ghana Armed Forces commiserates with the bereaved families and urges calm to be maintained by all parties while the incident is being investigated.
