Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has ordered an investigation into a video showing immigration officers assaulting a woman at the Aflao border in the Ketu South Municipality.
The incident was brought to the floor by the MP for the area, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, who expressed concerns about the service’s training protocols and the culture at the border facility.
The video appears to show gun-wielding immigration officers physically assaulting an unarmed woman.
Alban Bagbin directed the Interior Minister to report to Parliament on the matter on July 29, 2024. He emphasized that public servants are expected to serve the public, not use force.
The Speaker stressed that the use of force by public servants is unacceptable, particularly against women, and urged for a thorough investigation into the incident.
“I further direct that the Minister for Interior should report back to this house as to what action has been taken in this direction. I need to emphasize that public servants are servants of the people. We volunteered to serve Ghanaians.
“Public servants are different from the armed forces. The armed forces by the name are armed and they are armed and trained to use force and that is usually the last resort.
“Public servants are people who have volunteered to serve the public and that service we must render. We are not by law and by concept to use force.
“What is really making it worse is on the side our ladies, are completely uncivilized to use force against a lady. It’s not at all allowed and so I’ll allow the investigations to go on and let’s see what happens.”
Credit: myjoyonline.com