Ghana Pharmacists Advocacy Forum condemns assault by military officer on civilians at unlicensed retail drug outlet

The Ghana Pharmacists Advocacy Forum has condemned what it describes as a “despicable and barbaric” assault carried out by a military officer on civilians at a retail pharmacy outlet located at Burma Camp in Accra.

The incident, captured on CCTV and widely circulated on social media, shows Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Williams Mensah, a serving non-commissioned officer of the Ghana Armed Forces, dressed in civilian clothing, physically attacking both a shop attendant and a customer over a GH¢65 refund dispute involving medicine purchased on his behalf.

A statement issued and signed by C. S. K. Asomani, Convenor of the Ghana Pharmacists Advocacy Forum, expressed deep outrage, describing the officer’s actions as an “act of thuggery and a betrayal of the discipline and professionalism expected of the Ghana Armed Forces.” The Forum stressed that “such impunity must never be tolerated.”

It commended the swift response from key institutions, acknowledging the media for drawing national attention to the incident, and applauding the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and the Community Practice Pharmacists Association for their advocacy efforts. It also lauded the Ghana Armed Forces for promptly arresting WO1 Mensah and assuring the public that the act would not be condoned.

The Forum urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to conduct an independent and thorough investigation to ensure justice beyond internal military procedures. It further called on the Military High Command to undertake a comprehensive probe and, where necessary, initiate court-martial proceedings to apply the highest sanctions under military law. It additionally recommended compulsory sensitivity and anger-management training for military personnel who interact with civilians.

The statement also raised regulatory concerns, urging the Pharmacy Council to investigate the facility for a possible breach of Section 110(1)(c) of Act 857, which prohibits the operation of a pharmacy without a registered pharmacist present. According to the Forum, preliminary checks on the Pharmacy Council’s database as of 15:00 hours on October 30, 2025, showed that the outlet involved, e-Pride Chemist at the Air Force Market, was not a licensed pharmacy, raising “serious red flags of potential illegality.”

The Forum cautioned professional bodies, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and the Community Practice Pharmacists Association, to verify the licensing status of premises before publicly identifying them as pharmacies to avoid legitimising illegal facilities.

It further advised the Pharmacy Council to embark on nationwide enforcement raids on suspected unlicensed drug outlets, particularly those located within military environments, and to publish real-time updates to its public database. The public was also encouraged to report suspected unlicensed pharmacies for timely regulatory action.