The former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, is calling on the current government to step in and mediate the standoff between the military and the people living in Ashaiman before the situation becomes even more dire.
As dawn broke on Tuesday, Ghanaian military personnel surrounded the city of Ashaiman in response to the death of Sherif Imoro, 22, a member of the Ghana Armed Forces Band.
According to multiple sources in the media, he was attending a military course in Accra at the time, and in the previous three weeks, he had been going to visit his parents at their residence in Ashaiman every Friday.
It is believed that he was ambushed by the gang that ultimately ended his life during one of his visits to the area.
On Wednesday, March 8th, in response to the development, John Mahama posted on Facebook his condemnation of the killing of the soldier and added that the government must compensate all persons who have been negatively affected.
“I am deeply saddened by the death of one of our soldiers, at such a young age, in Ashaiman.
“Lordina and I extend our deepest condolences to his bereaved and grieving family, and the officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces.
“As your former Commander in Chief, I do appreciate how such unexpected deaths affect the Force.
“However, I encourage you to exercise restraint and allow due process to investigate, apprehend, prosecute and punish the perpetrator(s) of the dastardly act,” Mahama wrote on Facebook.
Adding that, “I pray we find peace and harmony in our dear country, as the government and state institutions immediately step in to address this potentially inflammatory development between Ashaiman and the Ghana Armed Forces; including providing commensurate compensation for all persons affected.”