Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has called for the immediate appointment of a substantive Defence Minister, citing growing internal security threats and the frontline role of soldiers in dealing with conflicts and illegal mining activities.
Speaking on State of Affairs on GHOne TV, he argued that ongoing security challenges in parts of the country make it necessary to strengthen defence leadership and coordination at the highest level.
“The geopolitics of the SAP region and the incident, the threats that are palpable, must get everyone concerned to constitute the full complement of your defence oversights and ensure that the Defence Minister is appointed,” he stated.
Rev. Fordjour said internal conflicts across the country require active military involvement, cautioning against the view that such issues are solely within the remit of the Interior Ministry and police.
He also referenced illegal mining operations, saying the fight against galamsey has placed additional pressure on the security services.
According to him, soldiers are often at the forefront of these operations, adding that recent incidents underscore the risks faced by security personnel.
Rev. Fordjour further claimed that in one recent situation in the Ahafo region, soldiers were forced to retreat during confrontations linked to illegal mining activities, describing it as a worrying development.
Beyond the call for defence leadership, the MP raised concerns about the welfare of security personnel, including alleged delays and deductions in allowances.
He claimed that immigration, fire service and prison officers did not receive rent allowances for the 2025 period, adding that partial payments made were later reduced.
“They couldn’t even get 5 percent increment… we checked, it was only three quarters, and there are still two quarters outstanding,” he said.
He also alleged that a 20 percent deduction was made from payments, describing it as unfair and calling for refunds and reforms to ensure timely and automated payments going forward.
Rev. Fordjour further raised concerns about youth recruitment, alleging that large sums were collected from applicants under promises of employment that were not fully delivered.
READ: Govt shifting blame instead of owning energy sector challenges – NPP communicator
He said over 490,000 application forms were sold under a recruitment exercise he described as misleading, claiming that only a fraction of the promised positions were available.
He called for refunds to affected applicants and urged reforms to prevent similar situations in future recruitment processes.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
