Ghanaians and the Military must do this to Stop Politicians from dragging the Military into Politics

The political situation in Ghana, where there is an allegation of involving the military in politics, is getting widespread media attention. These developments are creating a dramatic drop in respect for the military. Previously, Ghanaians held the military in high regard, making it an appealing career option for young males. Regrettably, this regard has been lost entirely. The army's participation in missions that stray from its conventional tasks is the fundamental cause of the decline in trust and respect for Ghana's military. These missions include performing electoral duties and offering protection to celebrities and people involved in illegal mining activities within the country.

This collapse has been caused by various factors other than those mentioned above. However, the most prominent complaint is that the military leadership has overemphasized political influences. As I said in my previous essay, using the Ghanaian army as a political tool can threaten civil-military relations in Ghana. When the military forms an alliance with politicians, it creates the impression that the army supports them, giving a simple way for politicians to legitimate themselves or their goals while shielding themselves from criticism.

While some may interpret my views as disparaging of the relationship between the military and Ghanaian politicians, I would like to stress that using active-duty personnel for law enforcement is not necessarily bad. However, it should be considered a last resort, saved only for urgent and severe situations. Although I had no intention of revisiting this issue, a reader of my earlier piece contacted me via WhatsApp and voiced concern that our military and certain critical institutions had become politicized. They wanted advice on how to solve this problem.

Regarding his inquiry, I offer the following suggestions. To sustain a military that enlists people from all walks of life and unites them into a skilled combat force, Ghana must first address public perception and improve its protection against political manipulation or engagement in partisan political fights. Attaining this goal will be difficult because it would necessitate increased discipline from military commanders and greater recognition from politicians of the harm they cause to our national security by disparaging the professionalism and nonpartisan dedication of Ghana's troops and leaders.

Furthermore, our military commanders must scrupulously adhere to the core responsibilities of their profession. Politicians must stop using their positions as a shield to adopt unpopular policies and instead focus on enacting relevant legislation in areas that require immediate attention. It is critical to proactively address the issue by keeping the military separate from public attention, preventing it from being embroiled in political debates. They should also be barred from attending press briefings and other events to keep a low profile. It is also critical to keep them within the barracks and let them concentrate solely on their traditional or core job.

Ghanaians should pressure politicians and the military to stick to their separate tasks firmly, ensuring that troops do not interfere with domestic political concerns. Military officers involved in politics or linked with a political party should be discharged from the armed forces to pursue their political goals. The military can also legally comply with civilian requests, but it can undermine the request through bureaucracy or respectfully decline to comply with the duty to express support for politicians. Individuals can express their concerns publicly and raise the alarm if a political figure interferes improperly in the military or if partisan considerations influence commanders' decisions. Retired military officers should raise concerns about political objectives impacting the military.

The military should make more significant efforts to oppose politicians' attempts to engage it in partisan politics. In addition to voicing dissent, military officers must clearly and firmly express their displeasure during private meetings (not through coups) if politicians try to force them to act in a way that violates the military's nonpartisan ideals. Military commanders must be able to make quick and forceful choices to avoid being exploited as mere accessories in politically biased circumstances. Politicians, opinion leaders, traditional rulers, and civil societies must actively contribute to maintaining impartial ethical standards and mending failing civil-military norms. Current and previous defense leaders must uphold these principles and encourage others to do the same.

Ghana's lawmakers should set good examples by highlighting to Ghanaians that the military is unbiased and not treating it with political bias. Their speeches and interviews must allude to the military's nonpartisan posture and underline its mission and significance as needed. Furthermore, they must criticize those who violate set standards, especially if fellow party members commit these violations. If a politician violates the military's nonpartisan ethic, civic societies, opinion leaders, traditional leaders, and political figures must express their concerns rather than abandoning the military to deal with the situation alone.

Finally, the general public is accountable for educating themselves and developing an appropriate attitude toward the military. Ghanaian scholars should help people understand the nation's civil-military ties through research and writing. Journalists should underscore the military's nonpartisan tradition to their readers when covering civil-military conflicts. Ghanaians must realize that involving the military in internal political affairs harms the country, regardless of whether a politician they support leads the endeavor. If Ghanaians follow the above recommendations, they can stop politicians from driving our army into their political frays.

Dr. Kwame Aduhene-Kwarteng (Castro).