Armed Forces should resist political manipulation and focus on welfare of personnel

One of the first things that greet trainee military officers at the Ghana Military Academy is an honour code, which states that a cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do so. Trainee officers are also taught to prioritise the safety, honour, 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 polarised 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.

The writer is a former Assistant Director of Legal Services at Ghana Armed Forces.