Minority Slams Government Over Jamaica Troop Deployment
The Minority in Parliament has sharply criticised the government over the recent deployment of soldiers to Jamaica for post-hurricane reconstruction and a separate, alleged deployment to Benin following the coup attempt. The Minority group describes these moves as procedurally flawed and a misapplication of resources.
According to the Minority, the deployment of troops from the 48th Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces occurred without the necessary prior approval from Parliament, raising critical concerns about transparency, accountability, and the expenditure of public funds.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Wednesday, December 17, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, the Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, stated that while the Minority supports Ghana’s tradition of aiding friendly nations, the government failed to adhere to established constitutional procedures.
“Parliament was taken by surprise by reports of Ghanaian troops being sent to Benin and, subsequently, Jamaica on humanitarian and reconstruction grounds, without any formal briefing or request for approval,” Rev Fordjour explained.
He further emphasized the need for parliamentary oversight, stating, “We do not have any problem with the principle of assisting these countries. However, the due process of consulting Parliament was not followed to allow us interrogate the modalities, the framework, the cost to the state, and how long these decisions will persist.”
Rev Fordjour questioned the inconsistency in government actions, pointing out that Parliament was consulted on the procurement of helicopters for the military but was bypassed regarding the troop deployments. He insisted that the same level of scrutiny should be applied in both cases.
The Minority is demanding clarification on several key aspects of the Benin deployment, including the number of troops involved, the governing protocols, the duration of the mission, and the total financial cost to the Ghanaian taxpayer.
“We need to understand which protocols this deployment is being undertaken under, how many troops are going, how long the operation will last, and how much it will cost the state,” he added.
The Minority accuses the government of making “misguided deployments” and warns that it will actively hold the administration accountable for the use of taxpayer funds. It has formally requested immediate answers from the Minister for Defence and all relevant state agencies involved in the decision to deploy the troops.
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