Ghana military denies probing soldier for ISIS ties

The Military High Command in Ghana has denied reports that a soldier who escaped while being taken through disciplinary processes had ties with the Islamic State (ISIS).

A release issued by Lt. Col. Eric Aggrey-Quarshie, Director of Public Relations for the Ghana Armed Forces, said here late Thursday that social media posts about the issue were not authentic and must be disregarded.

"Private Bawa Abdul Rahman was scheduled to appear on an interview at the General Headquarters a few days ago in respect of a disciplinary matter which came up after a field exercise some months ago," it said.

"He however absconded and remains Absent Without Leave (AWOL). His scheduled interview was not in relation to any possible links with ISIS but purely a disciplinary hearing," the statement emphasized.

The outcome of background checks and fact finding after the social media posts, the statement said, could not establish any such links between the 26-year-old soldier with ISIS.

"The Ghana Armed Forces therefore notified all media houses that the social media post, the source of which it is still investigating, is not authentic and therefore must desist from further publication and broadcast as the information therein is not correct," it said. Endit