Ghanaian Politicians must not drag the Armed Forces into their political fray

Recently, many Ghanaians have voiced concern over certain politicians' attempts to entangle the Ghana military in politics by seeking to replace the Army Chief and other high-ranking military personnel with people who will unquestionably support and sing their praises, jeopardizing the military's independence. I was glad the President delivered a statement confirming his unwillingness to participate in such measures or allow that to happen. The President, fully aware of the ramifications of such an action, has yet to consider the idea. Ghanaians must desist from proposing this idea because it would damage our great military, which is widely respected by other African countries.

Ghana's unified military structure is the country's Armed Forces (GAF), which consists of the Army (GA), Navy (GN), and Ghana Air Force. The Ghana Armed forces has its headquarters in Burma Camp in Accra. Its primary goals are to protect the nation's territorial integrity from foreign threats while maintaining internal security. The Ghana army is organized hierarchically, with the national Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Staff who oversees the administration of the armed forces. From the birth of Ghana's fourth republic, the Armed Forces have shown extraordinary domestic and international performance by efficiently keeping peace in the country and others devastated by civil wars. In addition to their duties in the defense of Ghana, the Armed Forces are outfitted and maintained in a manner that facilitates their contribution to the country's progress. Supporting the civil authorities in their efforts to maintain law and order, aiding the civil authority in delivering humanitarian aid to victims of national disasters and other emergencies, and engaging in constructive activities are all in line with the Ghana Armed Forces' mission. This makes it imperative for Politicians not to drag this our noble institution into its frays but instead must leave it alone so that it can focus on performing its fundamental tasks.

To maintain the Ghana Armed Forces' good local and international image, the country's authorities must avoid engaging them in political matters. This division promotes a balance of power and prevents the military from wielding undue influence over the democratic system. Maintaining the military's apolitical character ensures that national security and defense decisions are taken with tremendous respect for the country's overall welfare rather than being affected by personal or party interests.

Furthermore, our military personnel's political engagement may lead to conflicts of interest, hinder decision-making, and harm our society's democratic structures. As a result, it is critical to preserve a clear boundary between the military forces, whose primary job is to protect the nation, and politics, in which decisions are made to represent the people.

Besides that, involving military people in politics might undermine the military's image as an unbiased and professional institution. The military forces' fundamental mission is to serve everyone regardless of political affiliation. The armed forces must avoid being seen as biased or partisan to retain credibility and effectiveness.

Some Ghanaians feel that military personnel have right, as humans, to engage in national political issues. It is important to emphasize that although military personnel are being advised from engaging in political activities, they have the fundamental right to vote and express their own political opinions as people in their private capacity. Nonetheless, they are expected to carry out this task while maintaining their role as impartial guards of the nation. The prohibition on military personnel engaging in politics is critical for protecting democratic values, preserving the integrity of the military institution, and defending the separation of powers.

To prevent politicians from manipulating our military for personal gain, I propose enhancing the Ghana military's nonpartisan ideals throughout all branches. Ghanaian authorities must support and execute rules limiting political activity inside the military forces. They should also urge military personnel at all levels to be vigilant and reject requests that compromise the norm of strict military nonpartisanship. The Council of State members, religious leaders, and traditional authorities must discreetly advise the President, Vice President and politicians from engaging in political behavior in the company of Ghanaian troops.

Finally, I encourage politicians and civilians to understand that using the military as a political instrument endangers the public's trust in the military and the impartial processes that have built that trust. High-ranking military commanders must strongly and repeatedly reject such exploitation. At the same time, political leaders should aggressively pursue legislative measures to restrict the use of military or their symbols for political advantage.