Ghanaian troops on mission abroad to be withdrawn

Accra, June 12, GNA- Ghanaian troops on peace missions in Chad and other countries around the world would be withdrawn by the end of June, Mr William Ofori Boafo, Member of Parliament for Akropong said on Friday. Mr Boafo who made this known on the floor of Parliament said the report was worrying and called on the House to summon the Defence Minister, Lieutenant General Joseph Smith (td) to clarify the issue.

Mr Cletus Avoka, Majority Leader said there was no official report before parliament on the issue.


Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader also observed that there is no relevant information on the matter.


Mr Harunna Iddrisu, Minister of Communication said Mr Boafo had violated Parliamentary Standing Orders ( 62, 63 and 64) on the issue and called on him to use the right channel to address the house.


Mr Ambrose Dery, Member for Lawra / Nandom sprang up in defence of Mr Boafo said it was the veracity of the case that was needed and that it was important the Defence Minister is invited to give the facts or otherwise of the case.

Papa Owusu-Ankoma, Member for Sekondi noted that the issue was delicate and was inappropriate for the house to debate it.


"It is unnecessary and most unhelpful," he stressed.


The Speaker Mrs Bamford-Addo, who ruled on the matter said unlike the case of the 3,500 refugees that were said to have fled to neighbouring Togo because of communal insurgency, the report is not in the news and wondered how the house could establish it truthfulness.


Mr Cletus Avoka gave the assurance that the leadership of the house would look into the matter.