Speaking on Accra-based Citi TV, the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese MP said the initiative will cover all 44 galamsey-prone locations across the country.

“In the past, security forces would conduct operations and then withdraw, allowing illegal miners to return. This time, there will be a permanent military presence,” he stated.

He explained that the strategy also seeks to safeguard the country’s water bodies, stressing that “all the rivers we have will have permanent military presence.”

The announcement comes amid growing concern over the destruction of natural resources and criticism of President John Dramani Mahama’s decision not to declare a state of emergency over the galamsey menace.

Source: Adomonline

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This, he stressed, is despite the tragic killings of students and rising insecurity in the area.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, (Rtd.) Col. Aboagye described the government’s response to the recent spike in violence as reactionary.

“I think we can say that the government is reactionary.”

He acknowledged the shift in security conditions but warned against excessive use of force.

“Of course, when tactical situations change, you change approaches. So it’s a matter of course that because of the situation, the dynamics are changing, including the geographical spread, including the nature of the targets, school kids being assassinated in a targeted manner.

“Military convoy coming under attack, the military responding and escalating to the extent where it exceeds its, you know, lawful use of force.”

Three students have been killed in the past few days in what are believed to be targeted attacks linked to the long-running Bawku chieftaincy conflict.

Two of the victims were students of Nalerigu Senior High School in the North East Region, while a third was a final-year student at Bawku Senior High School in the Upper East Region.

These incidents have provoked widespread outrage and led to renewed military deployment and tighter curfews across the affected regions.

While Col Aboagye supported appropriate measures to curb the violence, he stressed that the deployment of the armed forces must be framed and conducted lawfully.

“It’s appropriate that the government, you know, takes appropriate measures. However, I think we all need to understand that there has never been any peacekeeping involved. And I’ve always said that we must not use terminologies that do not apply.”

He warned against mislabeling the military operation as a peacekeeping mission.

“The term ‘peacekeeping is not a global application to all manner of conflicts. Bawku is an inter-ethnic conflict in a democracy.”

Instead, he called for clarity on the legal grounds for military involvement.

“So the state now needs to find room for the armed forces to deploy, one within the laws of the country and two subject to international law.”

Col Aboagye explained that the Bawku crisis falls within the realm of internal security, not international conflict.

“What is appropriately happening in Bawku is an internal security for us, the armed forces, which we will be rightly mandated to maintain, establish peace, or restore and maintain peace and stability.”

He cautioned against adopting force doctrines from conventional military contexts when dealing with internal conflict.

“We don’t need to necessarily use the term ‘peace enforcement, even if the principles inherent in peace enforcement and types of operations will also apply to this situation.”

Abubakar Ibrahim

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Speaking in an interview with Joy News, he underscored that the military’s involvement should be limited to supporting roles and not directly interfere in the electoral process.

“The military should deploy in a manner that is not intrusive in the electoral process itself,” Dr Chambas stated, stating that such restraint is critical to maintaining voter confidence and ensuring peaceful elections.

He commended the leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces for understanding this delicate balance.

“The hierarchy of the Ghana Armed Forces, in statement after statement, has assured that the military will have no role in the actual securitisation of electoral personnel, materials, or polling stations,” Dr Chambas said.

Instead, he advocated for the military to act as a backup force, intervening only under extreme circumstances and at the request of the police.

“The police should lead, and the military should only be called in if a situation overwhelms the police. Even then, their intervention must be very measured,” he noted.

Dr Chambas warned that intrusive military actions could jeopardise the transparency and fairness of the elections.

“We don’t want to see a repeat of 2020, where military presence in some areas led to tragic outcomes. Any behaviour contrary to the orders given by the military hierarchy will be held accountable,” he stated.

The diplomat highlighted the critical role of openness and transparency in the electoral process.

“The evidence, not just in Ghana but globally, is that when election processes are open and transparent, the acceptance of results is very high,” he observed.

Dr Chambas expressed hope that all security personnel involved would adhere to their training and contribute to a peaceful electoral process.

“This time, I think everyone is determined not to repeat the bad experiences of the past,” he concluded.

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Her statement follows an announcement by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) regarding the deployment of military personnel to specific locations for election security.

The GAF made it clear that no military officers would be stationed at polling stations.

During a media update on December 7, Madam Mensa reiterated the EC’s lack of involvement in security planning, stating, “In terms of security, we have no hand in it and we do not make security arrangements.”

This clarification aims to address public concerns and distinguish the roles of the EC and security agencies in the election process.

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The sighting has raised concerns among some voters and election observers, as it deviates from the official statement provided by the security agencies ahead of the general election.

The Ghana Police Service had previously reassured the public that only the police and other authorised security personnel would be stationed at polling stations to ensure law and order during the election.

The presence of military personnel at Weija ITS polling station has sparked confusion and led to questions about the consistency of the security arrangements.

Election officials have yet to comment on the presence of the military at the polling station, while the police have assured that they are monitoring the situation.

Voters in the area, however, have expressed mixed reactions, with some feeling unsettled by the unexpected presence of armed forces.

Others, however, have remained calm, trusting the authorities to manage the situation without compromising the integrity of the election.

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised the alarm, alleging that the government plans to deploy soldiers to Parliament.

This comes after the Speaker of Parliament declared four parliamentary seats vacant, a decision that has been temporarily stayed by the Supreme Court, further fuelling political tensions between the NPP and NDC.

The NDC Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, warned against any military presence, asserting that his caucus would resist such actions.

Mr Agbodza also accused the government of previously deploying the military at the start of the 8th Parliament in 2021, claiming that MPs were assaulted during that incident.

“We are aware that between yesterday and today, some element of government have had the meeting again to deploy the military to the precinct of Parliament to enter the tent. We are aware of that,” he said.

The Adaklu MP cautioned that the “life of this government is less than 2 months. They will have to account for their conduct in 2020 and whatever they do tomorrow. But they shouldn’t be surprised that the people of this country would react forcefully to anybody in uniform on Tuesday and beyond.”

However, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has denied knowledge of such deployment plans.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Middaynews on Monday, First Deputy Majority Whip, Habib Iddrisu said they won’t need any military in Parliament.

He added that, their leadership had not been informed of any military presence.

“We in the Majority have not been notified by any presence of the military. The Majority Leader has not been communicated of the presence of the military” Habib Iddrisu added.

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According to him, the military should not be sent on such missions portraying them as ineffective in the end.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, October 16, the one-time Head of Communications at the presidency under the era of former President John Mahama, warned that institutions such as the military should not be affected by “our indiscipline, chaos, and corruption.”

He further criticised the deployment of troops to conduct short-term sweeps of troubled areas without sustainable plans in place.

“I hate to see our military reduced to something that is ineffective…I want the military to help but don’t get them in a position where there are failures even before they start going on these operations. They go and sweep the place, the moment they leave, the people go back,” he said.

His comments come after President Akufo-Addo directed the Minister of Defence to send additional military forces to bolster “Operation Halt,” the government’s initiative aimed at combating illegal mining.

The operation concentrates on areas adjacent to water bodies and forest reserves that have been significantly affected by illegal mining activities.

This directive comes in response to increasing pressure from organised labour, which had warned of a nationwide strike if the government failed to implement stronger measures against galamsey.

According to Dortsei Malor, the military has a reputation internationally.

He further questioned what Major Maxwell Mahama, a young soldier would have died six years ago if galamsey is still ongoing.

“Why do we excuse me bardadise our military and take them to an operation we know won’t be effective? Or get the military to be defending people who are destroying the land for ourselves and our children?”

Mr Dortsei Malor believes that the solution to the galamsey menace lies with Ghanaians.

“You can’t tell me we don’t have the solution, we are not fools. Ghanaians, we are good, we know the solutions,” he added.

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The decision was taken after a national security meeting to assess the impact of galamsey on river bodies and the environment.

Organised Labour on Wednesday, issued a stern warning to the government, threatening a nationwide strike by the end of September if decisive action is not taken to address the escalating galamsey crisis.

Other groups including religious leaders have voiced the same sentiments.

Speaking at a media engagement last night, the Lands And Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor said the President has also directed the decommissioning of illegal mining equipment if necessary.

“The various Regional Security Councils have been tasked to conduct recording sounds and scrutiny of their various areas and begin to roll out swoops and enhance the enforcement regime. So in the days and weeks to come, we will see the heightened and rampant enforcement.

“The Ghana Police Service at various RESECs will be the first point of call, if the need arises we will take it a step further by including the Ghana Armed Forces and when the need arises, we will possibly begin the extraordinary measure of decommissioning equipment used for illegal small scale mining,” he stated.

Conversations on galamsey and its dire impact arose after the management of Ghana Water Company Limited in the Central Region announced that there would be challenges with water supply in Cape Coast, Elmina, and surrounding communities.

The company revealed that the recent demand-supply gap is due to inadequate raw water received at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant (WTP) caused by galamsey activities.

Environmental groups, civil society organisations, and concerned citizens have since voiced their frustrations over the lack of significant progress in curbing galamsey activities, which have resulted in the contamination of rivers, destruction of farmlands, and loss of livelihoods for many Ghanaians.

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The opposition party in the legislative house is urging the government to stop using force to undermine the democratic rights of Ghanaians.

This caution follows the announcement by Agriculture Minister, Dr. Bryan Acheampong that the military will be deployed at various border points to curb the smuggling of grains out of the country.

According to the Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, these concerns are rooted in what they describe as the calculated use of the military in border towns across the country during the 2020 General Elections to intimidate voters.

The Minority warns that, the government’s plan to deploy the military in border towns is a tactic to intimidate voters during the December elections.

Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee, James Agalga, noted that the Minister, who served in the same sector, used similar tactics during the previous elections, making the current justification of curbing smuggling suspect and likely aimed at benefiting their political party.

Source: Ohene Amponsah

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The situation has reportedly resulted in the death of 12 persons and a few others abducted.

The incident occurred on Sunday, January 30.

“I have seen few more Military, not to do with the Bawku conflict but Jihadist or the terrorist filtration from neighbouring countries. So I think this Military can help us to patrol our borders to prevent them from coming to disturb our peace,” Supt Simon Peter Akabati, Bawku Divisional Police Commander, told TV3 in an interview.

The affected community is not far from Kulungungu near Pusiga and Sapeliga in the Bawku West Districts.

An eyewitness account suggests some residents of Wariwewu, crossed the border to Kulungugu and Sapeliga.

Military helicopters have been seen in the area, especially Sapeliga and Pulmakom while ground troupes are also in vantage points monitoring the situation.

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Sources say there is currently heavy security deployment at Sapeliga, Kulungungu and Pulmako, at the upper east border on surveillance.

A number of armored vehicles are currently on patrols at the Sapeliga township and all unapproved routes in the Bawku West district and other border towns.

Meanwhile, the Zugraana of the Kusaug traditional area, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, has urged all people in the area to promptly report any suspicious movement to their traditional areas to the security agencies.

The MP, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, claimed he even confronted Mr Nitiwul after he placed a call to the Military.

“I can say on record that it is the Defence Minister who called in the Military,” he alleged.

The military, heavily armed and clad in full regalia, stormed the Floor of Parliament to restore calm after some MPs disrupted the electoral process of a new Speaker for the House.

He made the claims in an interview on Joy News and described the act as shameful and a blurr on Ghana’s Parliament.

“I insist that Hon Nitiwul invited the armed Military men to the Chamber. When he made the call, I confronted him.

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“That is why there should be a thorough investigation. I have proof and other members of Parliament can testify too,” he indicated.

According to MP who doubles as a queen-mother in the Aflao Traditional Area with the stool name, Mamma Dzramedo I, some of the men have subjected indigenes to brutalities.

She disclosed this in an interview with Accra-based radio station, Happy FM as she recounted some instances of brutalities.

“A young girl about 19 years and her brother were walking across to Togo to school and for no reason, this gentleman in immigration uniform beat her and her brother up.

“She was introduced to us and her family had gone to make a complaint too. We followed up with the immigration and officer didn’t deny that he beat the girl because there were marks on her,” she said.

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She said people are harassed even on their way to the markets as she questioned the government’s strategy in combating the spread of COVID-19 in the area.

“If you want to protect our borders from people coming into our country I don’t see why it should be a terrifying situation; it shouldn’t. So these are the concerns that we raised”, she added.

The Minority, in a press conference in the Volta Region on Tuesday, gave a day’s ultimatum to the government to withdraw military personnel from Ketu South in the Volta Region.

The Caucus claims the deployment is an attempt to intimidate residents of the border towns especially, those in the Volta Region ahead of the voters’ registration exercise.

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Speaking at a news conference to clear the controversies around the deployment, Mr Nitiwul accused the NDC of spreading lies.

“I believe that if they are watching this press conference, they will revise their notes and they should be bowing their heads in shame because they lied to the people of Ghana.

“As we have all been told now, the numbers in the Volta Region are some of the lowest of the deployment,” he explained.

He questioned if their ultimatum was just to withdraw deployment in the Volta region or all other entry points.

“So when you are giving the ultimatum, are you giving the ultimatum for those in the North-East Region to also be withdrawn, those in the Northern Region to also be withdrawn?” he quizzed.

Meanwhile, he stressed the personnel have been deployed across the country’s borders as part of measures to control Covid-19 importation.