Resist political manipulation and improve welfare of personnel -Dr. Jamal Tonzua to GAF

Former Assistant Director of Legal Services of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Dr. Jamal Tonzua has called on the Ghana Armed Forces to resist political interference and focus on improving the welfare of its personnel to redeem its image. According to him, it is imperative for the Military High Command to prioritize professionalism, combat readiness, and addressing issues such as high attrition rates among officers and soldiers. He believes it is vital for the military to uphold its honour code and prioritize the safety and welfare of Ghana in these politically charged times. Dr. Tonzua emphasized that a national conversation is needed to discuss the role of the military in Ghana’s democracy.

Dr. Jamal Tonzua in a press statement issued on Monday October 14, 2024 on behalf of Sahara Institute of for Law & Policy said “The Ghana Armed Forces should resist political manipulation, redeem its image, and focus on improving the work conditions and Welfare of its Personnel”.

Read the full press statement

SAHARA INSTITUTE FOR LAW & POLICY
Post Office Box AN 5966, Accra.

Media Release October 14, 2024

TOWARDS BETTER GOVERNANCE — PART I

The Ghana Armed Forces Should Resist Political Manipulation, Redeem its Image, and Focus on Improving the Work Conditions and Welfare of its Personnel.

One of the first things that greet trainee military officers at the Ghana Military Academy is an honor code, which states that a cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do so. Trainee officers are also taught to prioritize the safety, honor, and welfare of Ghana always. These basic military codes have provided us with a highly respected and professional military. Unfortunately, our military’s reputation, image, and esprit de corps are eroding due to undue political manipulations.

Given the importance of a professional military in our democracy, especially in this polarized and politically charged moment, the Military High Command must resist undue political manipulations, redeem the sinking image of the institution, and focus on enhancing the welfare of its personnel and its capacity to repel and contain the threats of violent extremism and maritime insecurity on our society.

While Ghana’s protracted illegal small-scale mining crisis is purely a governance crisis, including a lack of political commitment and institutional weaknesses, political leaders have cajoled the military and set it up to fail on a matter that requires sound evidence-based transformative policy interventions. The situation is not different from other politically-tainted matters such as the protracted Bawku inter-ethnic crisis.

Regrettably, our political leaders are misleading and encouraging the military to use brute and lethal force in internal security operations, in a manner that is inconsistent with fundamental human rights and established military procedures including the rules of engagement and the use of force.

Instead of yielding to undue political manipulation, the military needs to address urgent issues such as the high attrition rate of officers and soldiers, especially pilots and medical doctors.

In collaborating towards better governance, let us support the military to liberate itself from political manipulations, uphold professionalism, improve its combat readiness, and improve the welfare of its personnel in relation to remuneration, housing, healthcare, and promotions.

Considering the importance and timeliness of this matter, we need to have an urgent national conversation on the role of the military in our challenged democracy.

Dr. Jamal Tonzua
Former Assistant Director of Legal Services, Ghana Armed Forces.
jts159@georgetown.edu; 0244900945.