Wa Naa expresses worry over delay in paying compensation to victims of military brutality
The Overlord of the Wala Traditional Area, Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, has expressed worry over the delay by the government to pay compensation to all persons affected in the military brutality against civilians in Wa over an alleged missing phone on July 1, 2021.
He said it was almost three years after the incident and the promise made by the government to compensate the victims were yet to be met.
The Wa Naa made the call during the Vice President’s, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, two-day visit to the Upper West Region.
The Vice President said many of the victims were “traumatised” by the incident and stressed on the need for the government to intervene.
“Some of my people got beaten up by rampaging military men, they come into town beating up almost everyone on sight as a revenge for an alleged theft of a mobile phone, we had a hard time calming them down, the victims are beginning to think they were deceived by the government,” he said.
Dr Bawumia said the victims of the military brutality had waited for so long hoping the government would come to their aid and compensate them for the harm they suffere.
He has, therefore, called on the government to initiate steps to honour its promise and pay compensations to the victims.
‘”The whole town was thrown into turmoil with people literally baying for the blood of the offending uniformed men, the issue brought down the military high command to Wa and other dignitaries and the promise made to these victims are yet to be fulfilled’’, he said.
The Vice President applauded the victims for their patience and stressed that the government would work to ensure all victims were compensated.
He said the government was concerned about the wellbeing of citizens and would do everything to support them when the need arise.
The Vice President said he was not aware that the victims had not received their compensation from government and pledged that all victims would receive what was due them.
“I was not aware that the compensation that were required due to the military disturbances had not yet been paid, I am going to follow up on the situation and make sure all the victims were compensated,” he said.
He commended the people for the peaceful coexistence after the military brutality, and urged them to forge ahead for the growth and development of the area.
Dr Bawumia called on the victims and residents to remain calm as he would use the right channel to make sure that all the victims received their compensation.
He underscored the need for the youth to be ambassadors of peace to encourage others to eschew negative attitude before, during and after the elections.
FROM RAFIA ABDUL RAZAK WA
