The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has dismissed a claim by Ningo Prampam Member of Parliament Samuel Nartey George that its officers could not provide protection for the Parliamentary Select Committee en route to Bawku to ascertain the conflict situation.
Sam George disclosed that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior who decided to go to Bawku were compelled to rescind their decision halfway through the journey.
According to the MP, the military were scared to go to Bawku to protect the Parliamentarians who were en route to gather information and understand the conflict situation for lasting resolutions.
Speaking on TV3’s Newday, he said “our army is afraid of going into Bawku to protect the parliamentary committee on defense and interior yet the military could go to Ashaiman to brutalize citizens.”
He dared the military to go and stop the people causing the conflict if they are strong.
However, Naval Captain Michael Addo Larbi Director of Public Relations for the GAF debunked Sam George’s claims.
“It is not true that the Military wasn’t there to provide the necessary escort or protection for the committee,” he said.
The Naval Captain explained that the military were ready to do their job adding that the committee members were given a security brief of the situation on the ground which is the norm when entering a conflict zone.
“I believe the Bawku Municipal Security Council MUSEC and the Upper East Regional Security Council had all given indications that they were prepared to receive the committee but the trip was canceled at the last minute so is not the situation that the military wasn’t in the position to provide them with the necessary security and escort to Bawku, they were ready for that,” he emphasized.