37 Military Hospital "molesters" to be disciplined

Accra, Sept. 17, GNA - The Military High Command has directed that appropriate disciplinary actions be taken against personnel who molested some drivers and their mates at the 37 Military Hospital on June 27. Consequently an officer, two soldiers and five mortuary attendants are to face disciplinary action as a result of their direct involvement in the incident, a statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces on Wednesday said.

This was the outcome of the establishment of the Board set up by the Military High Command to investigate the acts of molestation that some of the acts "had actually been committed". The drivers and their mates who were said to be involved in chaotic acts at the entrance of the hospital, were arrested by some military personnel and sent to the hospital's mortuary where they were allegedly forced to wash and arrange corpse, carry them and fondle the breast of female corpse in an attempt to discipline them. However, the Board was not able to establish that any of the victims had been forced to caress or fondle the breast of any female corpse, as alleged by one of the victims.

The statement said the Board also established that the June 27 incident did not emanate from any official policy or instructions of the Armed Forces or the Command of the 37 Military Hospital but rather a "spur-of-the-moment reaction of a few personnel to arrest some unruly drivers and mates" at the entrance of the hospital. Accordingly, the probation of one Courage Klokpah, a mortuary attendant under training, has been terminated because of the "significant" role he played in the incident.

Additionally, the Military Police are to liaise with their civil counterparts to ensure that any further legal action against Klokpah is taken.

The Board has also recommended that the Commander of the Military Hospital reimburses the victims for their hospital bills in respect of the medical treatment administered to them. The hospital is also required to grant limited medical care to all the victims for a period of one year.

The statement said the Board also recommended that the Military Police liaise with the civil police to ensure smooth flow of traffic in and out of the hospital and to "properly" check unruly drivers around that vicinity.

It said that commanders at all levels had been instructed to ensure that no member of the armed forces or persons attached to it administered similar disciplinary measures to the public.