CDS slams ‘okro-mouth’ soldiers

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. General Joseph Boakye Danquah, has condemned what he calls the leakage of sensitive information from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to the media.

He cited the latest of such leakages as a meeting of the High Command last Thursday saying that before the evening of that day, an Accra-based radio station was on air with a news item on the meeting with names of persons to be promoted.

The CDS, who was addressing the High Command, senior and junior members of the GAP at a non-denominational religious parade or the 2008 general elections, called for an immediate end to such behaviour.

"What is happening? Who are behind these things? It is shameful and those behind them should bow their heads in shame and ask for forgiveness," he complained.

He described the behaviour as unmilitary and dangerous and must not continue.

Lt. Gen. Danquah reminded members of the GAP to remain non-partisan; especially as the country prepares to go to the polls on Sunday.

He said the GAP would partner the police to ensure that law and order was maintained before, during and after the elections.

The Deputy Minister of Defence, William Boafo, reiterated the call for members of the GAP, both active and retired, not to leak sensitive information about the service to the media.

He said the leaking of sensitive" information was exposing the country to the outside world which could capitalise on it and attack the nation.

He warned that if that practice was not stopped, Ghana would one day find itself at war with countries that had such secret information.

Earlier in a sermon, the Director of Religious Affairs of the GAF, Col Odotei Asare, cautioned personnel to be mindful of what they say between now and the day of the election.

He said their profession imposed on them the responsibility of neutrality which they must not compromise.

The chief Imam of Burma Camp, Nahir U.S Ahmed, expressed the conviction that this year's election, like the previous ones, would be peaceful.