A nursing mother in her late 30s has been confirmed dead after soldiers reportedly fired live ammunition on mourners in the Amansie South District town of Manso/Datano in the Ashanti Region, over the weekend.
The deceased Felicia Donkor and her child were hit by a stray bullet when the officers took over the streets as residents observed the final funeral rites of a resident said to have died after falling into a mining pit, months ago.
It is unclear what may have triggered this incident. Footage of military officers firing indiscriminately has surfaced online. Reports however indicate that there is tension in the area as opinion leaders mount calls on the Ghana Army to withdraw the officers from the community.
“We were having a burial service for a young man who died three months ago,” Assemblyman for the area Kwame Amponsah told Accra-based Asaase Radio . “There was a military patrol at a nearby village, upon reaching my community, they saw the people in the community jubilating and singing.”
“The soldiers started chasing them and fired ammunition which hit one lady, and she was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was subsequently transferred to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and was pronounced dead yesterday.”
Withdrawal
“My community people are calling for the withdrawal of the military personnel, and as assembly member and presiding member for the district, I am in support of that,” Amponsah said.
Visit
The Ghana Army is yet to respond to calls for comment. Ashantibiz understands a delegation from the Ashanti Regional Police Headquarters has visited the community on a fact-finding mission and also to commiserate with the bereaved family.
Ashantibiz
