Jerry Shaib: Mr. Chair. No follow-up, but a further question on this. So, the military seeks to go through some very regimental training and activities, and there is also the likelihood of an emergence of a post-traumatic stress disorder and other related health issues. So, there are health concerns here. As a medical practitioner, do you have any plans, ideas as to how to help them not go through all the stress and health challenges? Thank you.
Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. When I met the generals and the colonels for the briefing ahead of this vetting, when we got to the health aspects, one of them reminded me of my days with the military. You can rest assured that we will look at health in the comprehensive way that it must be looked at, the social determinants and everything. And veterans in particular, there are some of them who still are going through a lot.
I have two veterans in my home, my dad’s side, and I remember growing up when the stories were being told. I remember very well, one of them even was shedding tears when it got to a point how a colleague was just killed during operations. So be rest assured that post-traumatic stress disorder, not just that, even before that, even before they encountered this trauma, there are some of them who may even have all kinds of conditions, just that mental health in general in the country has not been given the right attention that it deserves.
We’ll work together with the Ministry of Health to ensure that the programmes that are being organised, the training, Ministry of Education, more of such doctors are trained. It is when you have more in the system that you can also have some for the military. Whilst waiting to train more, we will leverage on the existing practitioners within the mental health space to also assist them. And it’s not just about mental health. It’s a comprehensive thing because the social determinants of health just go beyond what just mere disease and ailments are calling on us to be doing for our troops.
Jerry Shaib: Honourable nominee, so how do you intend to deal with the growing threat of cyber attacks? And what steps are you going to take to enhance Ghana’s cyber defence, especially in the light of our own situation? In the very recent times, I’ve seen that what we used to have as the domain name, the official…
Omane Boamah: …that was when we began calling cyber attacks, particularly on nations, as a David and Goliath kind of war, where you don’t have to have too much weapons, too much ammunitions, but you can deal with a powerful nation. We need to do more. As Minister for Communications, the GOTA system that our security agencies hold, I brought the second phase of it to Parliament, which ensured that 4G LTE was incorporated within that system. So, you can be assured that if it’s at the level of infrastructure, we will work on it. If it is at the level of applications, we will work on it.
If it’s at the level of enhancing the human resource for IT, not just for the military, because the military cannot do it all alone. The National Signals Bureau must also complement the work that the military will be doing. And once we achieve this collaboration, you can be rest assured that as much as possible, we will be able to ensure early detection. No one can give assurance against a cyber attack that it will be foolproof.
But the more you perfect it, you get to a better state, where even if it happens with disaster recovery and everything, you will be able to recover from that attack immediately. It was a reason that the National Data Centre, that is situated right here, I ensure the construction of it. We also plan… if I get to the ministry, we will take this up and look at how best we can work on some of these things efficiently using IT systems to assist…
Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (audio truncated)
Omane Boamah: Because of what benefit is that going to be to the widow? When the money is going to be received, let’s say one whole year after the husband passes away. But it is not just restricted to them. There’s even a story of a former CDS calling after about six months of leaving office to remind them of his gratuity. And it is something that we intend to work on to ensure that the processes are hastened. Thank you.
Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (audio truncated) …Thank you, Chairman. I wish to congratulate Honourable Dr. Omane Boamah. And I wish you God’s blessings in your new appointment. Chairman: I’ll give the floor to Patrick Yaw Boamah.
Patrick Yaw Boamah, MP, Okaikwei Central: Thank you very much, Chairman. Congratulations, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah. Two issues combined. The Department for Civilian Establishment, it’s a very important division, Department of the Ghana Armed Forces and the military, as well as the VAG, Veterans Association of Ghana. They play very important roles towards the success of the defence ministry. VAG is asking you to consider the rationalisation of their pensions, together with some other non-commissioned officers. Is this something that you are going to take a critical look at when you assume office? Thank you.
Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Welfare is at the heart of my politics. And so, anything that will benefit the people is dear to my heart. I’ll definitely take it up, discuss it thoroughly with the finance ministry. And we will situate it within the context of the financial challenges that we have. But you can be rest assured that we can even have innovative ways of ensuring inflows, new and additional inflows, so that we can take care of them very well.
Not always… inputs for surgery… Can there be arrangements between the 37 Military Hospital and the Koforidua Regional Hospital for such surgeries to be done? And then offsets are ensured just to give veterans the kind of dignity and appreciation that we have for the service that they rendered our nation. Thank you.
Patrick Boamah: Thank you. I know for some time, Chairman, this is just a follow-up, that some of the civilian employees have not even received their payslips. And it’s a source of concern within that establishment. And I’ll entreat you to look at it. Chairman, my second question. I’ll go to my second question. You are the second medical doctor to be assuming…
Chairman: You are no longer asking a supplementary question?
Patrick Boamah: No.
Chairman: Because you said civilian employees have not received their payslips. Since when? You just left power.
Patrick Boamah: Chairman, stop babysitting the nominee. Let me ask my question. This is babysitting from the chairman. Second medical doctor to assume the chair as Minister for Defence after Dr. Kwame Addo Kuffuor, who was the president of the Ghana Medical Association. He built the Defence Ministry under his tenure. I know a lot has also been done by previous administrations.
The military is an institution where they are kind of very jealous with their ranks and positions and what have you. I know you to be a very strict person. But the military, they don’t compromise. You are going to be a member of the Armed Forces Council. The CDS’s role is defined in the Constitution and Article 213 or so thereabout.
How sure are you, looking at your nature, are you going to be able to work with these officers who don’t joke with their ranks, their positions, having been able to serve for over 20, 30 years, have risen to this level. And they say, ah, Kofi Omane Boamah, this young man is coming to tell us to do this, like Nitiwul, excuse my language, was also brought here as a young man to do.
You know what I’m talking about. They need your assurance and cooperation. And they want to hear from you. I’m sure they are all watching you across the country and also abroad. So, they want to know who Dr. Kofi Omane Boamah is, their new Minister of Defence.
Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Some of them are here. The service commanders are here. And that should be an indication of how even the collaboration have gone so far. Some former generals, including a former CDS, is also here. And so, we will continue to engage in wide consultation.
In fact, I have, I’m not a trained military person. To all that I’ve said here, I credit them with this knowledge. And you’ll be amazed the plethora of briefs that they have sent and the quality of the language. You’ll be amazed. The good thing is that I’ve been with them before. I was with some generals when they were lieutenant colonels.
And they’ve risen all the way to that point. So be rest assured, medicine has a way of letting you fit in many situations, letting you face many challenges. And the same way that I treated them and their families with respect, with dignity, and with professionalism, whilst at 37 Military Hospital, they can be rest assured that when I was leaving 16, 17 years ago, I’m coming back even to do it bigger and better. Thank you.
Patrick Boamah: Chairman, I don’t have a follow up on that, but I’ll go to my last question. I was reading about the top five military trends in 2024. It’s included artificial intelligence, advanced defence equipment, internet of military things, robotics and autonomy system, and big data analytics. Looking at our armed forces, which of these new trends fits into our armed forces?
And I know you’ve been talking about modernising our army. And I don’t want to sit here to talk about our equipment base or whatever. We were sent to Akosombo with all the security personnel and we run through what we have. All the former security coordinators, defence officers, they were all there. We know our strength.
But looking at where we sit today and what I just mentioned, what are you going to do to improve the area of technology to enable our armed forces meet the current trends in military and defence strategies? Thank you. And I wish you the very best, Kofi.
Omane Boamah: Thank you very much. Mr. Chairman, to be very brief, modernisation of the military is something that will be on the front burner. Whilst we pursue that, we will also not fall into the trap of if we are not having the sophistication that is needed. It means we are paralysed. So, we shall optimise what we have.
And I must say it’s very limited if you are to look at the trends what our neighbours are doing and the fact that we have assets in our land borders, the sea borders and all. For instance, as I sit here, when I think of the Keta and the Volta Basins, they stretch or seem to be stretching to other countries. These are matters that may even bring border disputes and all.
So, modernisation is critical. We will not look at the modernisation just within the context of equipment and technologies, but even modernisation, the human resource and accommodation and everything, because it is when we look at it holistically that we will be able to have more from less. Our budget is limited. We are in a very difficult economic situation. And that is why when I met them, I said we need to innovate.
We need to look at even how we can projectize some of our projects to tap into climate funds so that if we can show that we have this carbon credit to trade, we will be able to have some funds to finance the military. So, all this will be on board. In talking about Galamsey, I made mention of the UAVs, some of them which can even be weaponised. They all fit into this.
But I will say that let’s not let technology paralyse our military because the force that we have, the expertise that they have, respected across the globe, there is so much that they are doing with the little that they have. I know they don’t have the platforms to be able to fight some of the battles that they must engage in. But even there, you talk to them and ask ways of making up for their deficits.
They sometimes even place naval officers on commercial vessels just so they can be able to protect some of these vessels and protect also our territorial integrity. So, they are people who innovate a lot. They are people who, when supported, they will be able to do more for us.
And so, we will put all the balls in the air and ensure that our army is strengthened to be able to aggressively and timelessly face any external aggressors. And if they also have to assist within our territory in ensuring law and order, they will do it professionally. Thank you.
Chairman: Thank you very much. I will proceed to recognise Alhassan Umar. Please be brief.
Alhassan Umar, MP, Zabzugu: Thank you, Chairman. Dr. Omane Boamah, congratulations. I’ve known you for quite a while and I’ve worked with you to beautifying Ghana and attracting companies, which are the BPO business process. The question, yes, Chairman, indulge me to thank him. We had an issue, and the issue was to build the Accra Digital City.
The minister helped me when the police came after me. Yes, it even ended in court, just to make Ghana work. After putting up a very nice, converting warehouses into Grade A facilities, opposite Awudome Cemetery. I know the minister to be very detailed, and he’s going to perform, he’s going to help the military, and he’s going to bring a lot of reform to the sector.
Minister, I have just received this from defence civilian staff of Ghana Armed Forces. Accordingly, they have expressed longstanding concerns about the removal of their risk allowances during the implementation of the single-spine salary structure. All efforts with this government, or authorities be, have failed. They want me to ask you, will you help them to get it fixed? Thank you.
Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. This question has fiscal implications. And also, we will need to assess the salary structure that is pertaining, as we speak now, to know how they arrived at the salary structure. Because sometimes in determining salary structure, some items are consolidated.
For instance, during the ADHA days, Additional Duty Allowance days, when the President Kufuor administration was doing away with the ADHA, they consolidated. So, I’m not seized with the entire details of this. So, with your approval, if I get to the Ministry, I would want to engage my former colleagues, they are my former colleagues, because as a civilian employee of the Ministry of Defence, I want to engage my former colleagues, know exactly the mechanics and the dynamics, and then we will have an amicable resolution. Thank you. And thank you very much for the work that we did together to get Ghana the Accra Digital Centre.
Alhassan Umar: Thank you, Minister. It has been observed that the military has been sometimes politicised. And especially having come out from this 2024 elections, in my constituency, people came in military uniform, and they were not detailed to be there. The question I want to ask is, how will you enforce discipline and stop this politicisation of our military? Thank you.
Omane Boamah: Thank you. It will be a collaborative effort. If you look at the Armed Forces Council, we have the civilians and we have the soldiers working together. And it’s a reality that we have to confront and address. As I have said here, we need to give the National Election Security Task Force some strong parliamentary backing. When that is done, a soldier who is being sent out by an aberrant individual will know that there are consequences ahead.
It doesn’t mean that as we speak, there can be no consequences for such soldiers. And in this day and age, cameras are in our palms because of our phones. People may have such evidence, images of such soldiers. The National Election Security Task Force, led by the IGP, is reviewing the entire election security and what happened. Honourable, I urge you to submit such pieces of evidence to the IGP’s office. And I believe it’s when we are able to identify such aberrant soldiers that we will be able to protect the thousands that are decent and professional. Thank you.
Alhassan Umar: I wish you well. Thank you.
Chairman: I proceed to give the floor to Rockson-Nelson Etse Dafeamekpor honourable.
Rockson-Nelson Etse Dafeamekpor, MP, South Dayi: Doc, congratulations.
Omane Boamah: Thank you, Counsel.
Dafeamekpor: Somebody asked me, why defence? I said, Doc can even serve as Governor of Bank of Ghana. Then he will succeed. Now, I want a yes and [no] answer to my question. We have too many military barriers when we are entering the Volta region. Too many. Just too many. Will you consider reducing them when you take office? Second, I have close affinity with the civilian staff of the military. And I’m aware that the 13th month bonus, Christmas bonus, they do get it. But these days it doesn’t come. Will you consider reinstating it for them?
Omane Boamah: Yes, it should be considered.
Dafeamekpor: Thank you. Now, finally, I come from a riverine constituency in the Volta region. I have arguably the longest stretch of the lake front as a constituency in South Dayi. I share my western boundary with Afram Plains North. And my south-western boundary with Afram Plains South constituency. There are thousands of people who live on islands that are days sail away from civilisation.
If you are moving from Dija Island, for instance, to Jemeni, it takes you several days by boat. When there’s a disaster, we are helpless. You can be rescued by another boat, which also takes hours. Will you consider getting a military helicopter dedicated for such emergencies and health rescue? Rescue particularly in terms of bushfires, in terms of disaster on the lake. How the people can be lifted, those who are alive can be lifted out of water so they don’t sink when they get tired after swimming. You know what I speak of. Will you consider an equipment of that nature?
Omane Boamah: Yes.
Dafeamekpor: Thank you very much. I wish you all the best.
Chairman: It’s now the turn of Honourable Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Minority Leader. Patricia Appiagyei, MP, Asokwa: Thank you very much. Honourable, may I please find out from you if you are aware that we have an Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act in place? Omane Boamah: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Patricia Appiagyei: May I please ask, have you had a critical look at that act?
Omane Boamah: Not a critical look, but I have read bits and pieces of it.
Patricia Appiagyei: How are you going to ensure the promotion of the women’s agenda? If you can let me have your clear initiative to ensure that women’s representation increases in your ministry. Thank you.
Omane Boamah: Mr. Chairman, in trying to analyse the Ghana Armed Forces from a gender lens, I also went into a bit of the history of the Ghana Armed Forces. And I found the Women’s Auxiliary Corps, that there used to be something like that. We can have a national discussion on this, and also with the advice of the military corps. It’s something that caught my eye and caught my attention, that this could be one of the ways that we can enhance the presence of women in the military.
I know that the training is very rigorous, and so we may have to look at how it was done in the past. Those who can participate in the rigorous training may be categorised within a certain domain. And can we also have something along the lines of a Women’s Auxiliary Corps that can help improve the percentage of females within the Ghana Armed Forces? So, in trying to do a gender perspective of the Ghana Armed Forces, this is one thing that caught my eye regarding the history of the Ghana Armed Forces.
But I know the trained soldier will say that once you want to wear the uniform, you must be ready and willing to abandon all hopes of normal life. I know that is exactly what they will say. But I also see an opening, because at 37, professionals were sent on peace missions without necessarily going through the months of training before they went on the mission.
So, it means that the military can use the innovation that they have, if they really want to use it, to enhance the presence of women within the Ghana Armed Forces. It is something that is very dear to my heart, and we will engage them. I know it is going to be tough for them to agree, but we will have a win-win situation. Thank you.
Patricia Appiagyei: Thank you very much. Honourable nominee, by your answer, I get the feeling that you go by the perception that women are weak links and will not be couched to be in the military’s landscape. If I get it right.
Omane Boamah: Mr. Chairman, no, that is not it. But the truth is, there is a reason the hundred metre record for men and for women are different. When they are recruited or enlisted, they are not going to make exceptions. Ask them. The physical training, you see them. They have to go. And sometimes, carrying of logs. Women are carrying it and everything.
So, I’m saying that equity. Women are stronger than men in several aspects. How can the Ghana Armed Forces also take advantage of the things that women are stronger in? That will even weaken men at training. How can they take advantage? So, it’s going to be a very innovative kind of process.
But I believe that when we bring in more people, we will be able to carve out a compromise position that does not compromise the security of even the women that we will be recruiting. And I draw on the fact that doctors and other professionals go on peace missions without necessarily going through the several months of training. Of course, we go through some limited training and then we are good to go.
Patricia Appiagyei: Thank you very much. Honourable. I’m happy you mentioned that you haven’t had a critical look at the Affirmative Action Bill. But there is a clause 60 which adjoins every ministry to ensure the achievement or the attainment of equity. That is the 30/70. And that is the reason why I’m asking you how you are going to do it. Because it is very important.
There’s the general view out there that it is almost unachievable when we relate it to the service. But I believe you’ve given us a right answer by saying that you believe the innovative ways of looking at the issue. But let’s look at this issue critically. How will you work to eliminate barriers for women in taking up combat roles or other specialised areas within the armed forces?
Omane Boamah: Mr. Chairman, this is a very loaded question. And I don’t know how long I have to deal with this. Because the barriers, if you are to look at it like a labyrinth, very, very long, right from childhood all the way from the time of menarche and all that menstrual cycle, they all pose major barriers to women. And so, it will take a concerted effort. And sometimes when I hear, oh, someone has broken the glass ceiling, I think it’s an oversimplification of the issues that concern women and girls.
Because whilst that person gets to that point of breaking the glass ceiling, we forget, that kind of narrative forgets about the many that fell apart. And the many obstacles that we erect whilst these women are striving to achieve what they want to achieve. And even in this room, Parliament, let’s check the dominance of men here.
This brings to mind the need for us to take the Act and have a serious national discussion about it, particularly NDPC, and how we can deliberately mainstream gender perspectives into everything that we do. I’m not a believer in the gender desk system, where you just place a solitary person in the ministry as a gender person sitting to that gender desk. If we can get policy makers at the top to imbibe gender perspectives, maybe President Mahama has shown the way.
We have a vice president in Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang who will sit in cabinet, who in the absence of the president will be the acting president, will be chairing cabinet meetings in the absence of the president. And so, you can understand that we will begin to have the rippling effect of gender perspectives coming from the top, ending on the Ghana Armed Forces.
Fortunately, the vice president will be chairing the Armed Forces Council. And the vice president is a woman. So, you can be rest assured that as we work with the soldiers to have a workable document, when placed before the Armed Forces Council, that will be chaired by the vice president, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, we are likely to have favourable decisions being made from there. But we need to work together on this. Thank you.
Patricia Appiagyei: Thank you very much. And I do appreciate that you have rightly showed the way. And that’s why I want you to put on your gender lenses very well and look at all the areas that you need to address. It is important because we would not just pass the law and not see any good implementation of the various clauses in the law. It is important that we need to ensure that it doesn’t turn into a document on the shelves.
So, I want each and every ministry to take note of that and then find out how best. Yours is the most difficult one. So, I commend you for answers so far given, but I’ll be taking a very critical look of how you perform under such circumstances. How will the Ministry of Defence collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure that children in conflict-prone areas have access to safety, education, and good health care? Thank you.
Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. The professionalism of our soldiers is not in doubt. And we believe that so long as when we insert the soldiers in conflict-prone areas and we stick to the timelines for their rotations, they are not likely to be embedded for too long so that they may take sides. It is also the reason we need to ensure regional balance, that is equity in the recruitment and the enlisting, so that even in deployment we are careful not to deploy soldiers who may take sides as they move.
And we believe that once we are able to achieve this and also have facilities that can let children study and learn, even as conflicts are resolved amicably in their communities, we will be able to take care of them. Of course, it will not be like a peaceful place where there is no conflict, but at least they are not likely to be missing lessons in school, health care, and all.
And so, as we establish some of these bases, and it is the reason the Forward Operating Bases are very important, when they are well developed, we can have MRIs systems where basic ailments can be taken care of within these bases. And it is very, very likely that with physician assistants and good referrer systems, if they have to be referring, they refer to the major hospitals. It is not just about education and health, even water.
This is where the military, presently embarking on an industrial drive, can also look at how they can drill more boreholes across the country, all in a bid to enhance human security. And as we enhance human security, the people will begin to love the military even far more than they do love the military. And it is when we do more of the human security that they will appreciate exactly what the Ghana Armed Forces stands for and does for the nation.
This is because, you know, sometimes when your doctor takes very good care of you and you don’t fall sick, you don’t appreciate what the doctor is doing for you. Because we have not been attacked, we may not be appreciating the efforts going into what we are experiencing, right from the Accra Initiative and all.
And so, we need to balance the real combat situations with the human security aspect. And I believe a healthy blend of the two will let the populace appreciate that if you met a Major Mahama somewhere, you need to protect a Major Mahama. You don’t need to kill a Major Mahama. He’s been trained to defend you as a citizen. Thank you.
Patricia Appiagyei: Thank you. In dealing with the vulnerable, we know that in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we are being urged to ensure that we include everybody. The mantra is, leave no one out. How will you or how will your ministry promote the inclusion of persons injured in the line of duty? Thank you.
Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. We are racing against time when it comes to Sustainable Development Goals. 2030 has caught up with us. We have just five years to 2030. And if you look at the indicators, we have issues. Health for all is still a major issue. Issue of vulnerable, very, very critical. And the U.S., for instance, really, really, really pays attention to their vulnerable, including those who are injured during wars and all.
Walter Reed is awash with a lot of those people. The Walter Reed Hospital. What we need to do is, what are their needs? They can begin to walk without necessarily walking like the way they were walking previously, but assisted to walk. And we have some of these facilities in the country. We can expand it. The military itself, I would say, has almost every profession in there.
The military, as part of the industrial drive, can begin to set up such outfits to produce prostheses that can help such vulnerable people. Beyond that, there are other decent jobs that people who are vulnerable can take advantage of. And within the military itself are several of them, right from the hospitals, manning elevators, administrative work, and several other opportunities that we can avail to them.
The local government ministry, that also sees to the district assembly common fund, would also have to assist such people. They may be soldiers, all right, but they live in communities. So, in looking at local economic development, how do we channel local economic development programmes to be able to support such vulnerable people? These are all issues that knowing the nature of President Mahama and his readiness and willingness to assist such vulnerable people.
A case in point was the amputees who went and won a cup somewhere last year where he parted with a good sum of money just to support them. I’m very, very confident that working together as partners, and parliament also ensuring that when the formula is being distributed, people with disability have their fair share, or if I may say, lion’s share of that.
That will help us very, very much because we need to look at them. They were once like us. Permit my saying, just with one road traffic accident, anyone can be like them. And so, we need to prepare to support them, whether they are veterans, whether they are serving soldiers, or whether they are civilians. Thank you.
Patricia Appiagyei: In your answer, you’ve actually prompted me to ask this question. Because as a minister, will you ensure that the defence budget incorporates gender responsive allocation to address inequalities in the defence budget?
Omane Boamah: Yes.
Patricia Appiagyei: Right. And finally, my final question. I know for a fact, and you also know for a fact, that currently in the country there’s never been a female who has risen or ascended to the highest position in the military. But currently, I realise that there are some women at some other places. Would you promise me or promise this House that you are going to, at your term as a minister, you are going to ensure that some of these women are propped up and ascend to the position of the highest, which no one has ever ascended to? Thank you.
Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I believe that the women in the military are there on merit, and if at any point in time, in terms of rank, that is being considered, and rank-wise, it is the right thing to do, is an advice that I will provide to the Commander-in-Chief himself. And he’s the person who chose Vice President Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang as his running mate.
You can be sure he’ll be too glad to have such a feat. Patricia Appiagyei: That’s what I mean. They have really gotten to a place where they can be promoted to ascend to the highest position. Anyway, thank you very much. I know that given the nod, you are going to assist or support the progress of women in the defence service. Thank you very much.
Chairman: Thank you. I will recogniseHonourable George Kweku Rickett-Hagan.
George Kweku Rickett-Hagan, MP, Cape Coast South: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Nominee, Dr. Omane Boamah, congratulations. I know you do a good job. First of all, I would like to, on behalf, I’m sure my Chairman will do that, but as a Vice Chairman, I would like to apologise for the time that you have been here, for no fault of yours, earlier challenges that we have.
I’m only going to ask you one question. I don’t want to prolong your time here. The question is a bit, I just want your view. Obviously, matters of defence are sensitive in nature. But I’m interested in knowing about the defence budget. I realised that in the last, at least since 2020, the COVID period to 2024, the defence budget has basically been declining for the last four years.
And then, as a percentage of GDP, it’s actually quite small compared to other countries. Now, we’ve attempted to buy certain military equipment. I wouldn’t like to name them for obvious reasons. And I’m wondering, we are in a very difficult economic situation, as you know, in terms of fiscal space, in terms of debt levels. I know that the Army is there to protect us, the frontiers of Ghana, of Ghanaians.
And we need to make sure that they have the resources and are well equipped to do that, including the use of modern technology. But what is your view? Is the military currently adequately funded? I mean, I know with everything, people ask for more money. But in your view, I know you haven’t been there yet. But of course, I know you, before you came here, you’ve done some research. In your mind, and this is a view, is the Army or just make it defence adequately funded to protect this country when the need be? Thank you.
Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Chair. When one of the best finance brains in the country is asking you questions about financing, you have to sit well. I tried to use evidence to back my conclusions. And the temptation is there for everyone to say we are not adequately funded.
So, I went beyond what was inadequate funding. Unfortunately, I and Honourable Kan Dapaah were the coaches for the Security and Public Safety Committee of the transition. So, if you look at the dwindling capacity, and for good reasons, I don’t want to mention any of that.
But if you look at the dwindling capacity, it’s clear that we need to do more. We need to do more. And you know, we need to be careful as a country because the descent of terrorists is real. The derivatives of Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, ISIS and all, and even in this country, even though we’ve not experienced terrorist attack, evidence suggests that one or two people once moved to join ISIS.
If this has happened, it should tell you indoctrination may even be happening somewhere. If we begin to look at the budget within this context, then you will understand why, even though we need water, even though we need higher salaries, even though we need more roads, even though we need ABC, blah, blah, blah, blah, we need to spend more on our defence systems.
But we also have to be innovative in the financing. We may have to, and I believe, move away from buying at once, let’s say, $100 million, $150 million, or $200 million. Can we begin to go into more structured financing where it is spread over longer periods, particularly if we are going to be committed to it and meeting our debt obligations. That can assure them because they know the credibility of Ghana’s army.
Ghana Armed Forces is not going anywhere, and so if we are buying equipment for them, particularly if we dovetail it into the work-lease system of peace support operations, there is so much that we can have. Through that, we can have more CASAs to transport our troops and also to transport others. Through that, we can also have a jet that cannot just carry the executive but also the legislature, the judiciary, and other aspects of our nation when the need arises.
Through that, we can also improve on the platforms that we have for our military to take action, either on the sea or in terms of having more air assets for our air force. Because, otherwise, as we speak, we have a three-star general heading the air force, but I’m sure you know, go into the air assets that we have. It’s not good for our country. It’s not good for our security. It’s not good for our safety. We need to double up. Thank you.
