ADAM-GH is calling for an investigation into an incident involving the supposed use of the armory of the 5th infantry battalion as an animal quarantine point.
It prescribes stiff punishment for the perpetrators if found culpable.
ADAM-GH specifically fingers CO Lt Col Owusu Afriyie and W.O. Owusu Twum as complicit in the alleged case of turning the armory of the 5th infantry battalion into a supposed animal quarantine point.
According to its press release dated December 27, 2024, signed by the Executive Secretary, Azubila Emmanuel Abdul-Salam cautioning the Ghana Armed Forces to “Stop misinforming the public”.
Exposing the GAF, the press release indicated that a letter from the GAF regarding the said incident that occurred a few days ago at the 5th Infantry Battalion (5bn) Ammunition Depot was an agenda to throw the dust into the public eyes thinking that the public is a novice.
“It is very unfortunate reading such a feeble and misrepresentation response from a noble institution like Ghana Armed Forces. GAF may want to do internal investigation and sanction without involving the public”, it stated.
ADAM-GH however bemoaned the statement from the Ghana Armed Forces describing it as an insult to the intelligence of the general public.
An excerpt of the GAF press release reads “Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie said and I quote:
“The vehicle that entered the magazine premises (ammunition center) was there to deliver newly acquired live cows to be quarantined, before being relocated to the Kraa which is adjacent to the magazine”, an explanation ADAM-GH describes as feeble and misleading therefore calling on the public to disregard same.
“We want to set the record straight that the pickup that entered the magazine with an empty and open bucket came out of the magazine with a closed bucket supposedly containing something they are concealing from the general public”, ADAM-GH exposed.
Clarifying further ADAM-GH observed “The audio from our outfit did not say the pickup vehicle entered the “premises ” of the magazine, we said the pickup entered the magazine so GAF must be specific according to what was said in the audio. As patriotic Ghanaians, we only have the following questions to ask the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) especially the military high command for clarification:
1. The good people of Ghana want to know when the GAF started using their Ammunition Depot as a quarantined Depot for cows.
2. If it is about cows, where was the Provo in charge of animals including cows but rather it was the W.O.
in charge of the magazine that was there with the CO?
3. Warrant Officer Owusu Twum who was around Lt Col Owusu Afriyie is in charge of the magazine and not the Kraa or anything that has to do with cows or animals in general.
Stating that this was the situation in which none of the appointment holders who were supposed to be in charge of animals, especially the Provo were there or seen around that area at that time, and yet GAF is misinforming the public that it was about the quarantine of cows.
Also, ADAM-GH is asking”Is it not true that the military Ammunition Depots are restricted areas for all ranks except the commanding officer of the unit because he keeps all keys of the Ammunition Depot?
Furthermore, “Is it not true that even the Arms store man of the unit does not keep the keys of the Armoury, how much more in the name of just quarantining a cow?”,
How can quarantining a cow take the whole commanding officer of the unit and the Operations Warrant Officer who is a very high appointment holder of the unit to move to the Armoury to receive a so-called quarantined cow?
How important is this particular cow for the Commanding Officer of 5bn of GAF to move to the magazine with other people well dressed in civil outfits?” adding
the people of Ghana will also want to know from GAF which of the cars parked at the Armoury in the video that carried the cow from the town to the Armoury of 5bn?”,
Can GAF prove to Ghanaians by providing evidence of the access to the Armoury permit that was authorized by the commanding officer allowing the vehicle to send the cow to the Armoury?
Can GAF provide evidence proof of the Sentry vehicular movement records book that checks in and out of all vehicles entering the barracks, especially the Armoury?
ADAM-GH disclosed “We know that for anyone entering the Ammunition Depot, there is a record book which the Sentry on duty will have to book all details of persons and vehicles entering the Ammunition Depot and out, can GAF provide the details of the vehicle that brought the quarantined cow, the driver’s name and phone contact of persons who brought the cow to the Ammunition Depot?
While quizzing, ADAM-GH also knows that in the military, every officer or soldier has the roles they play. For example,e Operations Warrant Officer (W O) is an appointment given to a very well-qualified warrant officer who undertakes all the tactical and operational courses that qualified him/her for that appointment of operational commander.
“If what Ghana Armed forces are telling us is something to go by, we would have seen the Provo and the CO moving up and down around the Kraa and not W O Owusu Twum who is rather in charge of anything about fatigue, and quarantine of animals which the Provo of the unit must have been involved to gather with cook IC and the store man of the unit to take note of the animal, while the Provo finds a suitable place for safety and feeding of the animal and the cook IC will also be in the known. The cook IC should take note of the type of cow and the size they brought to the unit in case they ask them to kill it. But this was the situation none of these appointment holders of GAF who were supposed to be in charge of animals, especially the provo were there that day, but rather Ops WO and the CO”, ADAM-GH demands.
Lastly, ADAM-GH reiterated that the pickup that entered the 5bn Ammunition Depot was empty, there was no animal in that pick-up but when the pickup was leaving the Armoury it left with the bucket covered thereby challenging GAF to provide the Sentry/Armoury vehicular, and human movement records book, especially at the Congo junction entry point of Burma camp. GAF should provide those details to Ghanaians, the Sentry records book has the full details of vehicular and human movement records.
Stressing “We are therefore calling on the leadership of GAF to investigate this particular case thoroughly and punish the current CO Lt Col Owusu Afriyie and W O Owusu Twum if necessary.
Ghana Armed Forces belong to all of us and it is our collective effort to protect the integrity, morals, and respect of this noble institution.
Report by Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor.
