Former Interior Minister Henry Quartey has assured that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not oppose government’s plans to retool the Ghana Armed Forces, describing the initiative as a national responsibility that must rise above partisan politics.
According to him, President John Dramani Mahama, as Commander-in-Chief, must be equipped with the safest and most reliable means of transport and protection, stressing that the NPP will support such measures in the interest of national security.
“We [NPP] will not fight the Ghana Armed Forces being retooled. President Mahama is the president of the country, we voted for him and it is our duty to give him that security. So if he has to fly in an aircraft that is safe for the people of Ghana, hallelujah and we will do that,” Mr. Quartey stated.
He underscored the importance of bipartisan support on defense matters, recalling how the Akufo-Addo administration prioritized retooling security services when it came to power in 2017.
“Some of us will support a worthy cause of retooling the Ghana Armed Forces. Indeed, President Kufuor did so. That is why today you can see. Look at the normal police cars passing between 2017 and 2018.
I mean, when we came to power, I was then a Deputy Minister of Interior. It was sad to note that complainants went to police stations and CIDs would say, what the car buyer now? In some districts, they didn’t even have one rifle. But today, Ghana Police is riding in cars with air conditions on,” he recalled.
Mr. Quartey stressed that just as successive governments have strengthened the Police Service to meet modern demands, it is equally important to equip the Armed Forces with the tools and infrastructure they need to respond effectively to both national and international threats.
Over the years, Ghana’s security agencies have benefited from various retooling programmes. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor initiated major defense acquisitions, including military aircraft and naval patrol vessels.
Under the Akufo-Addo administration, the Ghana Police Service received hundreds of Toyota pickups, motorbikes, and communication equipment to enhance mobility and law enforcement.
President John Dramani Mahama’s administration is now continuing this trajectory with plans to procure new aircraft and modern logistics for the Armed Forces, aimed at boosting operational efficiency and safeguarding the presidency.
His comments come as the government prepares to acquire new aircraft and defense logistics, a move that has sparked public debate over cost implications.
However, Mr. Quartey insisted that the safety of the President and protection of Ghana’s sovereignty must remain the top priority.
He concluded by reiterating that matters of security and defense should transcend partisan considerations, assuring that the NPP will continue to support initiatives that strengthen peace and stability across the country.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
