The Minister for Defence Designate, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has advised that the Ghana Police Service should be the first responders to issues and not the military.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee, Dr. Omane Boamah highlighted the importance of understanding the distinct roles of the military and police personnel in maintaining law and order.
He stressed that soldiers are not primarily trained to enforce law and order in the same manner as police officers.
“We need to understand the doctrine and philosophy of a soldier,” Dr. Omane Boamah stated.
“They are not trained principally to be enforcing law and order in a way a police personnel would do. We should be careful not to push them immediately there is an issue to be addressed. The police must be the first point of call to the point that the police can do it, let’s allow the police to do it.”
Dr. Omane Boamah further emphasized that the involvement of the Ghana Armed Forces should be a last resort and limited in scope.
“If it becomes necessary to draw on the Ghana Armed Forces, it should be a limited operation, because of the shock and all that the Ghana Armed Forces visit even when they get to town.”
Dr. Omane Boamah explained that the decision to involve soldiers should be approached with moderation.
“It is not a Yes and a No that soldiers should be kept out of it, but it is a matter of moderation.”
