While the police are often regarded as friends of the public, soldiers are at best only regarded as neighbours who live side by side with citizens in communities.

However, despite this neighbourly relationship, interactions with the military sometimes leave Ghanaians feeling intimidated, creating the impression that soldiers are not always welcoming of the populace.

Across various parts of Ghana, reports frequently emerge of clashes between residents and the military, arising from misunderstandings that range from minor disagreements to some very serious disputes.

Such confrontations often escalate, resulting in injuries and, regrettably, loss of lives, in some instances. These incidents have contributed to what appears to be a growing, complex relationship between civilians and the military, leaving many residents too cautious of their presence.

So far in 2025, there have been several of these clashes in different towns across the country, leading to significant injuries and the loss of lives.

These events not only highlight the need for improved communication and conflict resolution but also underscore the importance of fostering trust and mutual respect between civilians and military personnel.

GhanaWeb looks at the record of the cases in 2025 where military personnel have clashed with residents in various parts of Ghana, below:

Nyinahin residents clash with GAF over military accoutrements

A confrontation between residents of Nyinahin and military personnel on Thursday, April 24, 2025, resulted in the tragic death of one individual and left three others injured.

The clash reportedly stemmed from issues related to military accoutrements.

According to preliminary police information, about 11:00 AM on that fateful Thursday, a group of youth from Nyinahin was en route to the cemetery along the Kumasi-Bibiani Highway to bury a friend.

While on the way, a military truck carrying armed personnel stopped upon noticing one of the mourners dressed in military camouflage.

Eyewitness accounts state that the military personnel approached the individual and attempted to forcibly remove the camouflage uniform.

A confrontation ensued, during which a soldier allegedly shot the mourner in the head, killing him instantly.

The deceased has been identified as Akwasi Lala, also known as Kushivi.

The incident is reported to have escalated as the mourners reacted to the shooting.

In an attempt to prevent retaliation, the military personnel reportedly fired additional gunshots, injuring three other mourners.

Ex-servicemen clash with soldiers over suspected sale of land hosting CDS's residence

A group of ex-servicemen reportedly clashed with soldiers on February 13, 2025, over the sale of the land housing the official residence of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces.

A video of the incident, shared by Accra-based GHOne TV, showed the men believed to be retired soldiers, confronting soldiers and the people working on the said land.

According to the media, the land in question was sold to a private developer who has already started working on it.

The video showed a group of men confronting a senior military officer, stating that they were not afraid of anyone.

The men could also be seen facing off with armed military personnel.

One of the men indicated that the private developer was not using the said land for its intended purpose.

“If you have our land and you want to develop it, the land should be developed for the purpose for which it was intended.

“We have 15 acres, and you want to take 10 acres of it. We want to know how this deal was struck. Who are the actors behind it? The defence minister needs to come and answer. The Chief of Defence needs to come and answer,” the man said.

Small-scale miners clash with soldiers at Obuasi

There was a deadly clash on January 18, 2025, between small-scale miners and military officers guarding AngloGold Ashanti Mines in the Ashanti Region, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of 8 people.

Several reports suggested that the tragic incident left others injured and properties destroyed by fire.

Reports indicated that soldiers guarding the facility responded with gunfire, although the cause of attack was unclear, leading to the deaths of over eight miners.

An eyewitness told myjoyonline.com that the small-scale miners besieged the mine at midnight, fully armed and immediately opened fire, leaving scores dead and others injured.

VKB/AE

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