COVID-19: Akufo-Addo condemns brutalities, fake video originators to be fished out

President Nana Akufo-Addo has condemned the use of excessive force by some security personnel who have been deployed to enforce the lockdown directive in the wake of the Coronavirus disease.

The President however disclosed that persons involved in the publication of old and fake videos would be tracked by the security agencies.

In a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, President Akufo-Addo said such acts by “unpatriotic” citizens were only aimed at creating discontent and undermining the trust of people in the security forces.

“I am extremely disturbed by the actions of a few, unpatriotic persons, who are deliberately passing off and circulating old videos of alleged brutality by members of the security agencies, largely of foreign origin, and presenting them as though they were new incidents by Ghanaian security personnel, which have occurred during the course of this past week. It is sad, it is unfortunate, and it must end.”

“We should all be in this fight together, and there is nothing to be gained with widespread fabrication and distribution of such videos, whose sole aim is to create discontent and undermine the trust of the population in the men and women of our security services. Who gains from such conduct? Nobody in their right senses! The law enforcement agencies are determined to locate the originators of these anti-social acts.”

While condemning the use of excessive force, President Akufo-Addo said the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces had taken steps to investigate such incidents.

“They have given me the assurance that those found culpable will be sanctioned. The alleged wrongdoers have been withdrawn from the ongoing exercise.”

He further said in a bid to provide professional security services during the lockdown period, “senior officers have been deployed at the operation level and each member of the security services taking part in the exercise” while every security official had been given “guidelines for the operations.”