No democracy in the Military – Deputy Defense Minister

Personnel in state security agencies particularly those in Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) cannot take part in public discourse despite freedom of speech and expression, Deputy Minister of Defense, Major (Retired) Derrick Oduro has stated.

“There is no democracy in the military”, the retired military officer revealed in response to a group demanding the immediate release of Lance Corporal Wasaa after he called on Members of Parliament (MPs) to drop their decision in building a $200m chamber.

According to Major (rtd) Oduro, who spoke in an interview MyNewsGh.com monitored on Otec FM in Kumasi, what the said soldier did is unthinkable and a complete affront to the military hierarchy despite freedom of speech being practiced in the country.

“Even what he did, the Chief of Defense Staff and other senior officers in the Service cannot do. How can a common Lance Corporal go to that tangent”, the Deputy Interior Minister stated as he calls for stiffer punishment for the junior officers.

The Deputy Defense Minister therefore dared a group calling to go to Burma Camp and release the arrested soldier if they are brave enough to do so.

“Those calling for the release of the soldier in detention can go to Burma Camp if they are men”, the former military officer charged.

The Military High Command on Friday July 5, 2019 arrested an officer who is captured in a video demonstrating his displeasure against government’s intention to construct a new 450-seater chamber for parliament after describing calls for the construction of a new chamber with a 450-seater capacity as selfish on the part of Parliamentarians, appealing to President Akufo-Addo not to support the plan.