Richard Kumadoe, a Security expert, has advised civilians not to engage with visibly enraged military personnel.
He noted that civilians confronting an angry soldier could escalate dangerously.
Speaking on Joy Prime on Friday, October 31, 2025, Richard Kumadoe addressed the viral CCTV footage. Richard Kumadoe explained, “The soldier has a duty of care, and we also have a responsibility to provide customer service within a military zone.
These officers understand the consequences of unprofessional behaviour, but sometimes they disregard them — and that’s part of their training,” he explained.
He added, “If I were the young lady, even though she had every right to be there and her father holds a senior position in the army, I wouldn’t have engaged with an angry soldier.
I would’ve walked away and filed a report indicating that one of the officers might be experiencing emotional or psychological distress, especially after assaulting someone. The ramifications are serious.”
Also, Retired Ghana Air Force officer and Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Patrick Nelson Sogbodjor, has said that while the police may charge the officer with assault, the military would handle the case differently.
He stated, “The military cannot charge a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) for assault; that’s a civil matter. However, after internal investigations, the military may charge him with conduct unbecoming of a senior MCO. If found guilty, he could be demoted or summarily dismissed. The police will handle the assault charge, and the military will follow up accordingly, but he cannot be dismissed instantly for assault alone,” Sogbodjor explained.
“It’s unfair to tag the military as undisciplined. The men we train are disciplined. What we saw on television was unacceptable, but it reflects an individual’s actions, not the entire force. There will always be exceptions, but the military as an institution upholds discipline.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has confirmed the arrest of the soldier captured in a viral video assaulting a drug store attendant and a female customer.
In a statement signed by Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations for the GAF, she assured Ghanaians of Justice in the pharmacy assault case.
Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, in the statement, noted that the said military officer was arrested on Thursday, October 30, 2025, by the Ghana Military Police.
Part of the military statement read, “The suspect is assisting in the investigation over the incident,” the statement said, adding that the victims “have undergone medical attention and are also assisting with investigations.”
“The Ghana Armed Forces assures the general public that it will not condone any acts of assault on civilians and will not shield any soldier engaged in such,” Captain Arhin said.