In a video that shows immigration officials abusing a woman at the Ketu South Municipality’s Aflao border, Speaker of the Parliament Alban Bagbin has demanded a probe.
MP Abla Dzifa Gomashie, who represents the area, brought up the event and voiced concerns regarding the training procedures followed by the service and the culture at the border post.
According to the footage, an unarmed woman is being violently abused by immigration officers carrying guns.
On July 29, 2024, Alban Bagbin gave the Interior Minister instructions to submit a report to Parliament on the issue. He underlined that serving the people, not using force, is what public workers are supposed to do.
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 emphasise 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 uncivilised 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.”