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Ejura shootings: We shot at protesters because they fired shots at us first– Army Command head

Wednesday, July 07, 2021 at 3:14 PM by Priscilla Aklorbortu

Brigadier General Joseph Aphour has revealed that his men were compelled to fire at protesters after they shot at them
According to him, their aim was to maim those who fired at the security personnel on the grounds and not to kill them
He however stated the use of live ammunition during the protest was appropriate or else the situation could have been worse if they had not taken those steps

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The General Officer Commanding for the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Brigadier General Joseph Aphour, has revealed that his men were compelled to fire at protesters because they shot at the military personnel first.

According to him, their aim was to maim those who fired at the security personnel on the grounds and not to kill them.

This revelation was made when Brigadier Aphour appeared before the committee probing the Ejura incident, and gave his testament per what happened in Ejura on June 29, 2021.

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Ejura shootings: We shot at protestors because they fired shots at us first– Army Command head Photo credit: Ghanareport
Source: UGC

This is however the first time such a claim has been made, as initial reports only suggested that the protesters pelted the security personnel with stones and had in their possession knives and machetes.

Brigadier General Aphour said his men initially verbally warned the protesters when they arrived at the scene, but they did not pay heed but started firing at them.

Testifying before the committee based on the briefing given to him by his officers on the field, he said his men initially gave warning shots to disperse the crowd, but they did not leave.

He however stated the use of live ammunition during the protest was appropriate, or else the situation could have been worse if they had not taken those steps.

In a related development, appearing before the committee, Multimedia journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor stated that he initially saw four soldiers and then later another three personnel shooting at the protesters.