‘Watchman’, seven other victims of Navrongo Military brutality receive support

Correspondence from the Upper East Region

The 46-year-old watchman who was assaulted by soldiers at a CHPS compound in Nayagnia in the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Assembly has been supported with an undisclosed amount of money to seek medical care.

The support came from the Navrongo central constituency Parliamentary Candidate for the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Sampson Tangombu Chiragia.

Seven other victims of the assault were also supported with undisclosed cash amounts.

On April 24, 2020, at about 10 pm, soldiers enforcing a curfew in Doba and Kandiga, patrolled into the Nayagnia community from the inner side of Doba, towards Mirigu and unleashed beatings on civilians unprovoked.

The soldiers assaulted seven members of the community they spotted outside including the watchman who was performing duties at the community’s CHPS compound. The watchman was severely beaten and could hardly walk or speak properly.

The attack on the community which was not part of the curfew areas received strong condemnation but till date no explanation has been given by authorities.

Kondayire Jujugeni, presenting the cash to the chief of Nayagnia on behalf of the Parliamentary candidate over the weekend, said the support was to enable the victims pay for the previous medical bills and further seek proper medical care to ensure they are in good health.

He added that the cash was in fulfilment of his pledge to support the victims when he visited them earlier. He said Mr. Chiragia was hopeful the support will help ease the burden of medical bills.

Daniel Pwamang, the regent of Nayagnia, receiving the cash, thanked the Parliamentary candidate for the kind gesture and show of love for his people.

Mr. Pwamang said the kindness of Mr. Chiragia demonstrates the qualities of a true leader, urging him to stick to such qualities for a prosperous future.

The chief urged the people to use the money wisely and ensure they are properly treated and fit. He prayed against such incidents in the community in the future.

Assemblyman calls for apology, compensation

In a related development, the Assemblyman for the community, Pioseh Alexander, has called on the Municipal Assembly to render apology to the people for the unfortunate incident that has caused them pain and destroyed property.

He also appealed to the Municipal Assembly to compensate persons whose property was vandalized.

The Assemblyman was speaking on the sideline in an interview with the media Monday when he made the call. He mentioned that the Municipal Assembly was very reluctant in efforts to find a place to lay the matter despite the several calls from heads of the community.

He said the attitude of the Assembly clearly indicates it does not care about the welfare of the people.



"The issue is delaying too much from the side of the Municipal Assembly and especially the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. William Aduum. We have called him severally for a meeting so that we can convey to him and the assembly the requests of the people of Nayagnia but he hasn’t responded. Severally he has not responded. He gives one excuse to the other and we think this is not good for the people they are supposed to look after”.

"We have done critical introspection of the issue. So we are not calling him for anything apart from an unqualified apology and compensation to the people for the destruction of properties by the soldiers”. He stated.