The Minority in Parliament has described the recent public display of arms and tactical equipment by the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service in Accra as a misdirected priority and an unnecessary use of state resources.
The demonstration, held on Thursday, was intended to showcase the readiness of the security agencies to maintain law and order during the Christmas season.
However, the Minority argues that the exercise would have been more effective if conducted in actual security flashpoints such as Bawku, Gbinyiri, and illegal mining sites.
Addressing journalists, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, said, “We also saw on the streets of Accra troops that have been deployed from all over the security agencies, from military, police, fire service and all the agencies, immigration, showing force… What force ostensibly do they want to show on the street of Accra? Is Accra part of the flashpoint?”
He further emphasized that Accra, particularly the High Streets in front of the Supreme Court and Accra High Court, was not the appropriate location for the display.
“It was misplaced, it was inappropriate… If you want to show force… go to such areas where security officers’ lives are even in danger but you failed to go there,” Ntim Fordjour said.
The lawmaker also criticized the lack of consultation with Parliament before the exercise, calling it “a complete waste of resources” and urging the government to prioritize security operations in areas where threats are real and immediate.
He added, “Look at the situation in Bawku. Even after the 2 in 4 mediation, things are still not calmed… If you want to show force to deter people from committing crime, we know the flashpoints in this country. The decision by the Minister of Defence and the decision by Minister of Interior combined to show force on innocent streets is most bizarre.”
The Minority’s intervention highlights the ongoing debate over the allocation of resources in Ghana’s security sector, stressing that public displays should reinforce actual security preparedness rather than serve symbolic purposes.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
