KABA’s assertions on how Maj. Mahama died are false - Military

The military have refuted claims by talk show host on Asempa FM, Kwadwo Asare Baffour Acheampong (KABA), that their version of events leading to the death of Major Adam Mahama is flawed.

A statement signed by Director Public Relations, Col. Eric Aggrey-Quashie, says some of the assertions made in the aftermath of the death of the officer, by Mr Acheampong, popularly referred to as KABA, are unsubstantiated and false.

KABA, hosting the Ekosii Sen Program on Asempa FM on Monday June 5, claimed that what the police and military had put out about Major Mahama’s death were lies, and that the soldier was trapped by the negligence and power play within the military high command and some opinion leaders in Denkyira. The talk show host made the following claims;

• Captain Max had been leading the troop in that area since the beginning of the year (for 3 months). After the three months, he was replaced by a Lieutenant, so that he (Maxwell) could return to Accra to write his promotion exams towards the rank of Major.

 

• In his absence, the Lieutenant did some massive operations, seizing galamsey equipment of these same (Denkyira) people.The aggrieved galamseyers called for a meeting with the Lieutenant, of which he refused to attend.Instead, he sent four soldiers under his watch to Denkyira Oboasi, to listen to the people.

 

• The soldiers were nearly killed at that meeting. But with their good number and united front, they cocked their guns, moved back to back against each other to safety and escaped by the help of a pickup vehicle.  This was reported by someone in authority, in the Denkyira area, to Accra. The Lieutenant however failed to defend his men. So the four soldiers were rather recalled to Accra and locked up in guard room, until the death of Max.

 

• After his promotion exams, Max returned to take over his oversight responsibilities at the base. But he was not briefed about the earlier situations. At this point, it is believed almost all the soldiers there at the base were new to the developments.

 

•  A new meeting was scheduled with Max and the galamseyers, which he attended. It was on this day that he was ambushed and deliberately murdered to destabilise the military operations there.

The military have described many of these as false;

“GAF…wishes to reiterate that the allegations made by KABA on his programme which has been recorded and being circulated online, social media networks and some mainstream electronic and print media outlets, are misleading”

It clarified that, the first time Maj Mahama was deployed to the location was 9 May 2017. The assertion that the late officer was due to write exams and was relieved by a Lieutenant is also FALSE.

Major Mahama passed his promotion examination in June 2015 (2 years ago). On the contrary, it is the Lieutenant who is writing his promotion examination in June 2017 (this year) for which reason Major Mahama was deployed on relieving duties.

The statement continued that the issue of the 4 Warrant Officers facing disciplinary investigation is also unconnected with the current case and advised that no attempt should be made to draw any linkages. 

The Ghana armed forces advised media personnel to be mindful of their sources of information especially during this period in order not to misinform the public. They should pay due regard to the sensitivity of the deceased family in these trying moments. 

“It is also important to place on record that investigations are still on-going and therefore it would be both prejudicial and insensitive to make wild, unsubstantiated comments at this stage”

The statement reiterated the readiness of the military to clarify matters and give GAF’s side of issues to media personnel to avert the publication and broadcast of misleading information which has long term security implications.