Minority demands explanation over deployment of Ghanaian soldiers to Benin, Jamaica  

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on government to explain the rationale behind the deployment of Ghanaian soldiers to Benin and Jamaica, without recourse to the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior and parliamentary approval.

Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps on Wednesday, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South and Ranking Member on Defence and Interior, said the decision amounted to a disregard for Parliament and the people of Ghana.

He stressed that the deployment was a misplaced priority and a waste of national resources, urging the government to be transparent and accountable in its actions.

“Government is taking Parliament and Ghanaians for granted. Such decisions must not be taken without proper consultation and parliamentary approval,” Rev. Fordjour stated.

The Minority further questioned the motivation behind the heavy presence of soldiers, police, fire service, and other security personnel on the streets of Accra.

They argued that while force was being exerted on citizens in the capital, conflict-prone areas such as Bawku and communities devastated by illegal mining (galamsey) remained neglected.

The Caucus described the situation as another example of misplaced priority, insisting that national resources should be directed towards addressing pressing security challenges rather than show-of-force deployments.

Rev. Fordjour insisted that the Acting Minister of Defence, and Ministers of the Interior, and Foreign Affairs respectively, must come to Parliament to offer responses to these matters.

GNA