‘Stop having sex on UN missions’ – Defence Minister warns soldiers

The military service of Ghana has been advised to stop engaging in sexual activities when assigned on international duties to protect and maintain peace.

The Defence minister, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, advised the soldiers, adding that, the United Nations (UN) mission was to protect and save lives but not for soldiers to pleasure themselves with people’s wife’s and young girls.

According to him such awful practice by some of the military personnel’s tarnish the image of soldiers and the country they represented.

Mr Nitiwul said, “You cannot have sexual relationship with the people you have been given to protect and maintain peace, neither can you have sexual relationship between opposite sex,” he stated.

“The UN frowned on sexual exploitation and abuse, so desist from having sexual relations with the people you have been engaged to protect.”

The minister who made these remarks at the Third Battalion of Infantry at the Liberation Barracks in Sunyani, added further that, such actions if not stop, could result in the withdrawal of the entire battalions should it come to light.

“So, you have to behave like catholic priest when you get there… because once you are arrested it will have a repercussion on you and other members of your battalion,” he said and explained that it was because of such incidence that they were given $700 as leave allowance.

“In fact, you cannot just lose your rank but you can be sacked from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) if you indulge in such misbehaviour,” Mr Nitiwul warned.