TO THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, To whom it may concern;

UNLAWFUL DISMISSAL OF GHANA ARMY RECRUITS

In the general news on the 26 th December 2015, the Ghana armed forces
(GAF) confirmed the dismal of army recruits who were undergoing training at
the army recruits training school in shai hills. In a statement issued and
signed by Colonel E. Aggrey-Quarshie, Director of Public Relations (PR) of the
Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), He stated that the recruits behavior are farreaching and inimical to the security of the State as they without due
authorization dressed up in their outing attire (black trousers and white shirt)
staged an unauthorized assembly on the School square and later marched to
the instructors accommodation to be sent home because the training was
strenuous, a situation the recruits considered as maltreatment.
(http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Ghana-ArmedForces-confirm-dismissal-of-500-recruits-403380)
This news came as a shocker to the recruits due to what one may describe
as a stab in the back. 498 army recruits were assembled at a parade on the
23rd December 2015 at the drill square in shai hills at about 06:00 hours to
be addressed by the ATRAC Commander. In his address, the ATRAC
Commander said, My instructors here are going for Christmas break and you
all know what happened on the 3 rd December, so were also breaking you,
investigations are still in progress so when we are done, we will call you
back. When you get home, dont mingle yourselves in any dubious activities;
(fighting, drinking and others) and train hard but do not sleep. Some
instructors also expressed that this was a great opportunity for those with
wounds and other medical problems to heal well so they could enjoy and
endure the training upon return. Only to be hit with news on various media
outlets that 501 army recruits have been sacked from shai hills.
Many people have reacted in several ways since the break of the news.
Some, including lawyers and Parliamentarians have even asked that the said
recruits should be brought before the law and prosecuted for wasting
national resources. However, has anyone actually wondered why a person in
his right state of mind would subject himself to a whole year of enlistment
process and expenses, two (2) months of standard military training with all
that goes into it that certainly most civilians are clueless about and then
wake up one morning and say I want to go home?
It is on record and it is in Ghana army history that, in every batch of recruits
trained at the army recruit training school, those who lose interest upon
arrival, those who are not medically, morally, psychologically, physical and
even academically fit to be there only last for a maximum of two (2) weeks
at shai hills (usually by running away, termed as AWOL i.e. absent without
official leave). After 21 day on ground at shai hills, you are considered as

good as a soldier. Why then will the Ghana armed forces want the good
people of Ghana to believe that all these 501 MEN demanded to be sent
home after two (2) good months of PHYSICAL, MENTAL, STRATEGIC,
INTELLIGENCE, WEAPONS etc training.
It will interest the good people of Ghana to know that, as at the 23 rd
December 2015 when the recruits were sent on a Christmas break, one (1)
had lost his mind, eight (8) had run away (AWOL), eleven (11) were brutally
injured and were in P.O.P and with crutches issued to them at the 37 military
hospital and one (1) was still on admission at the 37 military hospital
undergoing treatment for a broken leg. The remaining 498 were either
having a swollen feet or some sort of injury. However these recruits were so
determined to train to defend our mother Ghana.
The disparities in the figures is because within the first two (2) weeks, those
who run away were replaced by people who had passed the enlistment
process but couldnt make the final list and were on standby
I believe the young men who have giving up everything to join the Ghana
army because of the love they have for mother Ghana, their immediate and
extended families and the great people of our mother Ghana deserve better
from the Ghana armed forces than to be treated like African Americans in
the USA in 1960 without rights nor voice. Ghana belongs to all of us, and
the peace and sanity we enjoy is what we value most. If they are 501 and are
two (2) months trained real army recruits, and they feel betrayed,
disappointed, dishonored, and destroyed by the country they gave up
everything to serve, then May God help us all.
What really happened?
1. The senior recruit is superior to all recruits, and per military code of
conducts, all his orders are to be carried out without fail. He has the
authority to charge, drill, or dawn any recruits for refusal to comply.
2. Theres a principle in the military which says "OBEY BEFORE COMPLAIN".
This simply means no asking of questions. Your responsibility is to obey
whatever you're told to do by a superior before giving any complains.
3. Soldiers are taught not to betray colleagues when they do something
wrong at the training school. This is to enable them resist the temptation of
betraying fellow soldiers when captured on the battle field by the enemy,
regardless of the amount of torture or punishment he faces.
At the dawn of 3rd December 2015, the senior recruit shouted a fall in
command and ordered the recruits present to double to the square in their
black and white outfit. Upon arrival at the square, the senior recruits walked
to the instructors apartment which is just opposite the square to speak with
the CSMs (the instructors in charge of the various companies) A little while

afterwards, the CSMs walked to the square and asked the recruits present,
you people say you want to go home? The picture of surprise that was
painted on the faces of the recruits cant be expressed with words. They all
shouted in response, no Sir. In fear and panic of not knowing what might
happen next, the recruit run back to their dormitory.
The morning after (3rd December 2015) became a red letter day for all the
recruits who were undergoing training at shai hills. The commanding officer,
together with the entire senior and junior officer present at the camp
assembled all the recruits at the square. The Commanding officer asked the
question I head you people came to the square this dawn to say you want to
go home right? Anyone who wants to go home should come forward now
Not a single soul opted out to go home. An order was given for the entire
recruit to be severely doubled and drilled by the instructors for their act that
dawn. And clearly this was on the senior recruits. All the recruits were
seriously dealt with and even made to weed for the rest of the day while they
were denied their meals for the rest of the day.
The next morning, the 4th December 2015, a general assembly was convened
and the ATRAC Commander, a Brigadier General came in to address the
matter. He asked if it were true that the recruits wanted to go home, and
they shouted a bigger NO SIR. He then called the senior recruit and asked
him what happened. The boy said, Some of the recruit came to me saying
they want to go home, so I told them to wait so I can discuss with the CSMs
to help discourage them from going. The Commander then asked him to
point out those recruits; however he claimed he couldnt identify them.
The ATRAC Commander condemned the act and warned that it shouldnt be
repeated. He explained the magnitude of such actions under the military
laws and encouraged that latter in the training, the various military laws
would be thought so that in future such ignorance will be prevented. He
further encouraged the recruits to tune their minds for the training so that
they can finish well. He welcomed moral songs and anthems from the
recruits and edged them to submit to authority, commit to train in order to
become the fine soldiers the country need. The recruits were dismissed to
their dormitories, however their meals were again denied for the rest of the
day.
It was latter communicated that training has been halted pending an
investigation by a board of enquiry from the army head quarters. Some
recruits, especially the senior man and other senior men from the various
companies took turns with the team of investigators at the schools head
quarters. Up until the 22nd December 2015 when the recruits were paid their
allowances and asked to fall in on the square the next morning (23 rd
December 2015) to meet the ATRAC Commander. And that was when he sent
the recruits home for a Christmas break.

Is the army justified to take the decision they have taken?

Is it fair to the young men that their future be pushed like this?
Do they have a voice and can they speak?
Who will listen to then, and who is willing to help?
Are their rights to employment, to fair hearing, to justice etc not been
taken from them?
One of these recruit may be your son, brother, friend, school mate,
future in-law, church member etc, in fact each of the recruits is a
Ghanaian.
The recruits are ready to tell their story, they want to go back to
finish their training so they can serve and defend this great
nation. People of Ghana should please hear them out and help
them get justice, for they too are Ghanaians.
To whom it may concern.