Family of naval officer cries foul over unpaid entitlement

The government is yet to compensate the family of one of the navy personnel who died in River Pra during an anti-illegal small-scale mining operation in the Western Region last year.

The two, Leading Seaman Frederick Obed Mensah and Able Seaman Moses Yao Nkyi of the Western Naval Command lost their lives during a combined police/military operation to clamp down on illegal miners popularly referred to as ‘galamsey’.

The entitlement Able Seaman Moses Yao Nkyi has been paid but that of Leading Seaman Mensah has not been paid since the incident happened one-and-half years ago.

Mr. John Takor Mensah, father of the late Mensah, told journalists in Takoradi that he suspected foul play from the top hierarchy of the military.

“The military is still playing cat and mouse game with me after one-and-half years since the incident occurred,” Mr Mensah said.

He said before his son’s demise, he was the bread winner of the house and his death had created pain and economic hardship for the family and condemned the Ghana Navy for allowing the two to go on that operation without providing them with life jackets.

The operation was in response to a directive by the Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC) after the illegal miners had blocked a portion of the River Pra at Sekyere-Haiman in the Wassa East District.

The blockage prevented water from flowing into the intake area of the Ghana Water Company at Bosomase and Daboase that resulted in water shortage in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis and its environs.

An effort by the GNA to speak to the Public Relations Officer of Two Garrison Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Captain Linda Oboh, was unsuccessful as she did not pick the call.