We will not give up until we are recalled - Dismissed GAF recruits

After more than two years of being dismissed for embarking on an ‘’unauthorized assembly’’ in protest against what they [recruits] described as ‘’maltreatment’’, some of the dismissed recruits say they will not give up until they recalled.

The recruits who stormed the studios of Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, today [Friday], said they have still not heard from authorities despite the assurances they have received. They told Nyankonton Mu Nsem that, ‘’we have not heard from anyone. We have not being told whether or not we would not be recalled or remain dismissed.

What are we going to do? Why have our authorities remained mute over the issue? When asked why they have not given up, spokesperson of the group [name withheld] said once a soldier always a soldier and anyone trained to be a soldier will always remain a soldier even in civilian life.’’

The group insists they have not been informed on whether they still remain dismissed and they are still holding their appointment letters with service numbers.

‘’The appointment letter still holds because we have received any text message or any information on the outcome of the investigations initiated.’’ They also took a swipe at security experts in the country for failing to speak on such a sensitive matter.

The recruits further revealed that, they have been chasing after lawyers to help them but the financial demands the lawyers were demanding was huge. The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in December 2015 dismissed some 501 military recruits for staging an ‘’unauthorized assembly’’.

Some of the recruits have not given up the fight for their instatement. But speaking in an exclusive interview with Nyankonton Mu Nsem, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Armed Forces, Colonel Aggrey Quarshie in 2016 said the decision to dismiss the recruits was established after they were found to have misconducted themselves and therefore they will not be re-called.

He explained that if by the protest something positive came up, they would have all benefited hence the affected recruits should accept their fate and move on. ‘’Some investigations were done and that is how come they [Board] were able to establish what they did,’’ he stressed.

According to him, Ghanaians will soon come to appreciate this bold decision taken by the GAF to dismiss the recruits although many have expressed concerns over the action.