Former Chief of Defence Staff of Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General (Rtd.) Joseph Nunoo-Mensah
Brigadier General (Rtd.) Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, has urged the government to immediately stop the practice of protocol enlistment in the military.
He believes that this practice leads to the over-politicisation of the Ghana Armed Forces, which can compromise their neutrality.
Nunoo-Mensah’s comments come after Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin publicly requested not to be denied slots, despite his tough questioning of Minister of Defence-designate Dr. Omane Boamah.
In an interview with Starr News, monitored by GhanaWeb, Nunoo-Mensah emphasised the importance of preserving the military’s neutrality to ensure it remains focused on protecting the nation’s security.
“For Christ’s sake, we should stop the protocol enlistment in the military. In my time, there was no politics in the military. The military is there to protect Ghana, not the NPP or NDC. They are there to serve the nation,” he said.
He further explained that upon election, a president becomes the Commander-in-Chief not due to their personal affiliation, but by virtue of their office.
“The President, when elected, becomes the Commander-in-Chief, not because of his political affiliation with the NPP or NDC, but because he is the President. Everything he does should be aimed at protecting Ghana as a state.
I firmly believe the military should remain apolitical. If it becomes politicized, it poses a serious threat to our country. Danger looms if the government politicizes the military,” he added.
VKB/MA
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