Army recruits demonstrate against ‘strenuous’ training

Training of new recruits in the Ghana Armed Forces at the Army Recruits Training School, Shai Hills, has been halted following demonstrations by the recruits.
This is according to a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations for the Ghana Army, Colonel E Aggrey-Quarshie.
The statement said the recruits staged an unauthorized assembly on the school square and marched to the instructor’s accommodation demanding to be sent home because they felt their training was too strenuous.
The recruits followed their protest with other acts of insubordination, according to the statement.
The Army says such acts of insubordination are detrimental to national security, hence the decision to halt the exercise.
Below is the full statement from the Ghana Armed Forces.
Cessation of training of Army recruits.
The Ghana armed forces wishes to inform the General Public and relatives of recruits undergoing training at the Army Recruits training School, Shai Hills, that there is cessation of training of the recruits.

The cessation has become necessary following an incident which took place at the Training School on 3 December 2015. At about 0200 hours on that day, the recruits without due authorisation dressed up in their outing attire (black trousers and whites shirt) staged an unauthorised assembly on the school square and later marched to the instructor’s accommodation demanding to be sent home because the training was strenuous, a situation the recruits considered as maltreatment. This was followed by other insubordinate behaviors by recruits that same day.
The implications if the recruits’ behavior are far reaching and inimical to the security of the state.
The Ghana Armed Forces rake this opportunity to wish all Ghanaians a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.
Signed: Colonel E Aggrey-Quarshie, Director of public relations
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa