The Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has reaffirmed Ghana Armed Forces’ (GAF) commitment to productivity and national development, emphasising that their efforts will be more visible and appreciated by citizens.
Speaking at the first Defence Press Corps engagement in Accra, Tuesday, this week, Dr. Omane Boamah highlighted a recent intervention by the military in the Eastern Region, where the Army have received an order to build a bridge over a stream at Asuokow, to ease transportation challenges for residents, particularly schoolchildren.
According to him, army training is focused on combating both internal and external threats, therefore, it would be more prudent to engage them in productive activities rather than deploying them for civilian interventions.
Dr. Omane Boamah emphasised that the military should only be deployed in critical situations, advocating for the Ghana Police Service to handle day-to-day law enforcement.
He suggested that the Ghana Football Association should reconsider deploying soldiers for high-risk football matches, arguing that the police have sufficient personnel to manage security at such events.
He noted that the Ministry of Defence is focused on completing stalled projects and that it is essential to cultivate a culture of finishing what has been started.
Drawing from his experience at the Ministry of Communications, he stressed that every new project should have a clear financial plan to prevent unnecessary delays.
Dr. Omane Boamah also addressed ongoing housing challenges within the GAF, revealing that there is a 17,000-unit accommodation deficit.
He said the government is exploring multiple models, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to complete existing projects and construct new ones.
Additionally, he raised the idea of integrating some military personnel into civilian communities, noting both the security benefits and operational challenges associated with such a move.
On security threats, the Defence Minister warned about the dangers of illegal mining (galamsey), which has led to severe environmental damage, including extreme pollution of water bodies.
He criticised the previous administration for failing to control the crisis, stating that Ghana Water Company is struggling to treat heavily contaminated water.
He also reiterated the military’s readiness to assist in combating illegal mining, terrorism, and violent extremism, stressing the need to properly equip and modernise the GAF to tackle emerging threats.
Dr. Omane Boamah concluded by calling for greater public support for the armed forces, stating that their contributions often go unnoticed, but are vital to national security and development.
