Ghana Armed Forces pledges not to shield soldier who assaulted pharmacy staff

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) says it will not shield the officer captured in a viral video assaulting pharmacy personnel and a female client at Burma Camp.

In a statement on Thursday, the Armed Forces confirmed the arrest of the soldier, who was seen on CCTV and social media physically attacking a drugstore attendant and a female customer at e-PRIDE Chemist on Wednesday, October 29.

“The arrest of the suspect was carried out by Ghana Military Police personnel at dawn today,” the statement signed by Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations, said. “The suspect is assisting in investigations over the incident.”

The GAF indicated that the victims have received medical attention and are also assisting with ongoing investigations. “The 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,” the statement emphasized.

The incident sparked widespread outrage after footage circulated online showing the soldier, identified as Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Mensah Williams, physically assaulting the two victims.

In a separate statement, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) described the assault as “barbaric and utterly unacceptable,” warning that violence against pharmacy personnel endangered public health and safety.

“The Society unequivocally condemns this reprehensible act of violence,” PSGH President Dr. Paul Owusu Donkor said. “We stand firmly with the pharmacy personnel and the female client who endured this traumatic ordeal and will ensure they receive the necessary psychological and professional support.”

The Society urged the Ghana Police Service and the Armed Forces to ensure swift and transparent justice. It also commended the military for promptly arresting the suspect, saying this demonstrated an institutional commitment to professionalism and discipline.

Both institutions have pledged to follow the matter closely to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in the safety of healthcare spaces.

In the disturbing footage, the officer, dressed in civilian clothes, stormed a pharmacy at Burma Camp, angrily demanding a refund for an item purchased on his behalf.

He was seen assaulting both a bystanding woman and the pharmacist during the confrontation.

The video shows the officer striking a woman who was standing near the counter. The shocked victim, identified as the daughter of a former Provost Marshal of the Military Police, attempted to record the incident on her phone, prompting the officer to lunge toward her and slap her multiple times.

WO1 Williams then turned his aggression toward the pharmacist, repeatedly hitting him while insisting on a refund.

The incident, which was recorded on a CCTV camera, has been widely condemned by many Ghanaians who have viewed it on social media.