Deputy Minister-designate for Defence Ernest Brogya Genfi has pledged to work closely with the substantive Defence Minister, Dr Omane Boamah, to ensure that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is well-equipped and combat-ready to defend the nation against any external aggression.

Speaking during his vetting on Friday, February 28, he acknowledged that while the Ghana Armed Forces enjoys high respect from the population, some isolated incidents have strained the relationship between civilians and the military and need to be resolved with urgency.

The Isolated incident mentioned by the Minister-designate has to do with the previous civil-military tensions, particularly the killing of  Imoro Sherrif, a soldier, who was attacked and stabbed to death by unknown assailants while returning from Taifa to Zongo-Laka in Ashaiman, on March 4, 2023.  In response, soldiers stormed Ashaiman and brutalized residents in an attempt to apprehend the suspects.

This event has further deepened mistrust between the military and the civilian populace

As part of his vision, Genfi pledged to support efforts to enhance civil-military engagement, particularly by collaborating with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to educate civilians on the role of the military and promote mutual respect, alongside bridging the gap between the security forces and civilians.

“I hope that we will leave behind an Armed Forces that is ready for combat, well-equipped, and tooled to face any external aggression.

“I believe that the civil population has great respect for the Ghana Armed Forces, and I think there is an existing relationship between the civil populace and the military. However, the isolated unfortunate incidents are issues we must work on to reduce them to the barest minimum.

“I am going to assist my minister in encouraging more civil-military engagement. The military can engage with MMDCEs to educate the public on their primary role and the respect that must be accorded to our security institutions.

“I am going to the ministry to assist my leader in fulfilling the President’s vision. Whatever needs to be done to compensate for the gap created, I will support my minister to achieve it,” he noted.