Daasebre Gyenin Kantam II, Chief of Akim Achiase in the Eastern Region has appealed to the Minister of Defence for the removal of the Military Jungle Welfare Station at Achiase.
The call followed alleged brutalities meted out to people by some soldiers of the unit in recent times.
Daasebre Kantam II, who is also the Acting Nifahene of Akim Abuakwa Tradition made the appeal in an interview with Newsmen at his palace in Akim Achiase.
He said a week ago, three soldiers from the unit allegedly assaulted a newly wedded couple and stripped the bridegroom naked.
The Acting Nifahene gave the name of the couple as Kwesi Okyere and Awura Ama a three-month-old nursing mother.
Daasebre said three soldiers led by W.O.1 Abraham Awatey also allegedly assaulted Madam Ekua Nyipaa, an 80 year-old woman and mother-in-law of the bridegroom.
The Acting Nifahene claimed that, after the act, the soldiers with the help of police personnel in Achiase, towed the bridegroom’s vehicle to Akim Swedru Police Station.
Daasebre Kantam II said the traditional authorities gave a large parcel of land for the establishment of the Unit 38 years ago.
He said the inhuman acts of some personnel of the Unit have destroyed the good intentions of the chiefs.
“This is the reason why we are calling on the Minister of Defence, if possible, to secure a new place for the Unit in order to protect the lives and properties of the citizens in the traditional area,” he said.
He appealed to the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector General of Police to conduct thorough investigations into the alleged brutalities and bring those involved to book, without compromising the dignity of human right of civilians in the area.
The chief said, much as traditional authorities in the area support peace moves by the government to ensure lasting national cohesion, they would not hesitate to point out the bad nuts among the security agencies in the area to the higher authorities for the law to deal with them.
