By Patrick Biddah
A group of ex- military men, numbering over 100, have hit the street to demand an immediate explanation to the suspected sale of the official residence of Ghana’s Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff.
The ex-service men, who said they have had enough of the dissipation of state lands, mobilised and went to stop workers, who were developing the 15 acre land located on number 3 borstal avenue, which is the land occupying the residences of both the CDS and the Chief of Army Staff.
Some of their placards read “Pack Out Of Here It Is A Military Property “, “The Thieves Should Keep Off”, among others.
The action of the ex-service men, in no time, attracted a military officer, who showed up with the name tag- Colonel Sabah , who tried to explain that the land in question, has not been sold, but rather an arrangement to redevelop it to provide more units for the military and a permanent residence for the CDS
His explanation, rather seem to have infuriated the ex-service men, who vehemently advised him not to promote such state capture in the name of Public Private Partnership.
In their opposition, the ex-service men had a heated confrontation with the Colonel, who had to leave.
Eventually, the ex- severe men, sacked all the workers and got the gate locked.
Matters, however, got deadly when some fully armed military men, stormed the construction site and openly brandished Ak 47 assault rifles, threatenING to shoot the ex-service men.
In the process, one ex- service man, disabled the weapon of the soldier, who threatened to open fire and another pointed a gun at the head of the uniformed soldier.
The convener for the ex-service men, Capt( Rtd) Fidelis Adams, who spoke with The Herald, indicated that the land under construction was known to be for the development of a medical school to support the 37miltary hospital, although it houses the official residence of the CDS, but the structures being put up, does not suggest same .
For him, the current development ongoing, has been shrouded in secrecy and there was the need for an explanation to safeguard the armed forces property.
For example, he said there were no writings on the walls of the land, to show there is any development going in there.
“Before the explanation comes, there was the need to protect military lands and .property at all times, whether in active service or on retirement,” he stressed.
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