This morning, I want to speak to every soldier and Police personnel in Ghana.
Listen, I know how your job goes, you take orders and act on them.
I know how many of you got into the police service or the military.
It’s because a political party you supported came to power and your uncle or someone you knew did connection for you to be fixed in the security services.
Some of you went ahead to pay money to have your way through,
It’s an open secret that enlistment into the security services in Ghana is shredded with bribery and corruption.
I’m not here to speak on that today, but I’m talking to you about your future and what it holds for you in an event you are used to do illegal stuff by your superiors or that Politician who got you the job as a Solider or Police.
As a young officer, you got into the Police or military as a civilian and if you are fortunate to serve, you will be a civilian when you decide to resign or perhaps retire after service.
So your position as a solider is not permanent, as such your actions especially when ya against the very civilians you swore an oath to protect must be measured.
In 2010, we all saw what happened in Cote D’iviore when some rebels took to the streets after their election to fight for Laurent Gbagbo.
People died, these were by the actions and inaction of Gbagbo who was the President at the time.
Let’s go back to Liberia, during the era of Charles Taylor and the massacre he led and supervised. Let’s also not forget about Gaddafi and his eventual end.
I’m using all these examples to drive your mind to something important.
Of all the things that happened in Cote D’iviore in 2010, the number of lives lost, Laurent Gbagbo today is a free man but I don’t think some of his troops who were captured at the time of the conflict will be free.
It took years after the Liberian war for Charles Taylor to even be convicted of war crimes. In all of these period he continued to enjoy some immunity same was the case for Muammar Gaddafi until his death.
What am I driving at?, all I am driving at is simple the freedom your superiors will enjoy when table turn will not be extended to you a “normal” soldier or Police when tables turn.
In worse situations, your superiors will deny you, they will deny ever giving you orders to kill and you will face and dance to the music alone.
It is important to take orders as a soldier or Police officer but it is extremely important to use your own discretion in times of executing an order.
I’m not sure about the fate of the soldier or Police officer who shot those civilians at Ejura.
I cannot tell, if they will be fished out and dealt with when tables turn because this is Ghana, it’s scratch your back, I scratch yours as usual.
Notwithstanding, I’m certain a regime will equally come and the sins of today will be accounted.
Akufo Addo is 77 years, in natural order of things he’s going to die before you the soldier in your 30s or 40s, don’t kill for this dying man.
It’s not worth it, think about the future and ask yourself if you are prosecuted tomorrow for the crimes you are being used to perpetuate today, can you exonerate yourself ?
