Court throws out 1300 ex-soldiers claiming unlawful release from army

The Labour Division of the Accra High Court has dismissed a suit by 1,351 ex-soldiers, who claimed they were unlawfully removed from the Ghana Armed Forces.

The ex-servicemen, who were recruited between 1976 and 1984, but released in 2010, dragged the Ministry of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and the Attorney General (A-G) to court in 2016.

Reliefs

According to them, their release from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) was against the terms and conditions governing their recruitment into the GAF.

The retired soldiers also argued that they were not given their full entitlement as they were paid entitlement for 15 years instead of 25 years.

They, therefore, wanted the court to declare their removal as unlawful and not in tandem with due process.

Also, they wanted the court to order the government to pay a compensation of Ghc 20,000 to each of the retired soldiers.

But in a judgement on Tuesday, the court, presided over by Mrs Justice Laurenda Owusu, said the ex- servicemen failed to provide any concrete evidence to prove their case.

“From the totality of the evidence, the plaintiffs have failed to prove their case,’’ the presiding judge said.

Appeal

Meanwhile, lawyer for the ex-servicemen, Mr Victor Kwesi Opeku, has hinted of appealing against the decision of the court.

Speaking to journalists after the judgment, he said his clients had given him the greenlight to initiate an appeal process because they did not agree with the court’s decision.

“Some of my clients served beyond 25 years, some served up to 32 years. So if the military find it right to use their services after the stipulated 25 years, they must find it right to properly release them,’’ he said.

Writer’s email: emma.hawkson@graphic.com.gh

 T