Owula Mangortey writes: Who will remind Commander-In-Chief Nana Akufo-Addo that his Soldiers do not have Rifles and Ammunition? 

 

Fellow Ghanaians, who will remind the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President Akufo-Addo, that his soldiers do not have rifles and ammunition?

AKUFO-ADDO’S INVESTMENTS IN THE NORTHERN SECTOR

The good news is that there is evidence that Commander-In-Chief Nana Akufo-Addo has done some investments in infrastructure, equipments and personnel training in the fight to counter and deter Terrorist Armed Groups.

When you tour the five regions of the Northern Sector, you will notice the following investments in infrastructure at different stages of construction:

(1). Wa No.10 Mechanized Battalion.

(2). Bazua No.11 Mechanized Battalion.

(3). Sandema No.12 Mechanized Battalion.

(4). Damongo No.155 Armoured Regiment.

(5). Daboya Army Special Operations Training School.

(6). Tamale Multi-National Joint Task Force Headquarters.

(7). Twelve (12) Forward Operating Bases (FoBs) and three (3) Logistics Bases in the five regions of the Northern Sector.

You will also notice deployment of troops, equipments and accoutrements to the barracks and FOBs.

You will also notice that due to the GAF’s drive to fill the FOBs and Logistic Bases with personnel, new recruits have reported or are reporting for training as the following data indicate:

ASOTS: 14th July, 2023 – 700 recruits.

ARTS: 28th July, 2023 – 750 recruits.

JWS: 11th August, 2023 – 300 recruits.

NACTRAC: 25 August, 2023 -350 recruits

DESTABILIZING MOD/GAF

Fellow Ghanains, if in recent periods you monitored Security and Intelligence operations in the Northern Sector, you would notice that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and/or the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) are experiencing a financial crunch which is obviously impacting GAF operations – in Bawku and other border and near border communities.

Fellow Ghanaians, the most shocking current bad news is that YOUR SOLDIERS DON’T HAVE RIFLES AND AMMUNITION!

Who in government is deliberately destabilising the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces?

PRESENCE OF TERRORISTS IN GHANA

There are the following pieces of evidence – known to Ghana’s Security and Intelligence Chiefs – of the physical presence of Terrorist Armed Groups in border and near border communities in Ghana:

(1). In February, 2023, Burkina Faso Intelligence hinted the Government of Ghana of the presence of JAMA’AT NUSRAT AL-ISLAM WAL-MUSLIMIN terrorist bases in Ghana.

According to sources close to the Burkina Faso National Intelligence Agency (ANR), the terrorists escaped from Military bombardments in the Sissili general area in the Centre-West Region of Burkina Faso.

The Burkinabe Intelligence Agency advised their Ghanaian counterparts that the escaped terrorists sought refuge in Gwollu, Kwala and other communities in the Sisalla West District of the Upper West Region.

(2). In July, 2023, Burkina Faso Intelligence provided to Ghanaian Intelligence the names of some Jihadists who had run to Ghana and were hiding in the Bawku West District. Ghana Security and Intelligence Agents located, arrested and deported the jihadists. Subsequently, Ghanaian authorities started a joint Military/NIB/DI/Police/Immigration exercise – OPERATION DESERT SHIELD – to round up and repatriate Burkinabes suspected to be linked to jihadists cells.

(3). It is common knowledge in border communities such as Hamile, Gwollu, Kwala, Tumu, Pindaa, Nakolo, Sirigu, Sapeliga, Mognori, Kulungugu, Bimpiela, Widana, etc., that Terrorist Armed Groups frequently infiltrate Ghana because they enjoy the following benefits:

(1). The terrorists consider Ghana as a safe haven for their family members who have been dislodged by incessant bombardments of their positions by the Burkina Faso Military.

(2). The terrorists consider Ghana as a safe place for rest and victuals (food and other provisions).

(3). Ghana Security and Intelligence Agents hardly capture and hand over the terrorists to the Burkina Faso Military. Ghana Security and Intelligence Agents wisely herd the terrorists back across the border.

GHANAIAN TRADERS EXPERIENCE THE WRATH OF JIHADISTS

Sunday, 6th August, 2023 was a busy market day in Cinkase (Togo). The Cinkase market is highly patronised by traders from Togo’s neighbouring countries.

According to the Ghanaian traders, some Jihadists killed twenty-five (25) road users and injuried one (1) person at a forest stretch area near Nohao, a small town in the Bittou Department of Boulgou Province in South-Eastern Burkina Faso, with close proximity to the Ghana border .

Even though they were caught up in the turmoil, the traders said their lives were spared after each of them confirmed their Ghanaian identities.

The traders said that when their vehicles numbering over ten (10) were halted on the highway, the passengers were ordered to disembark. They were asked to produce their IDs and those who flashed the Ghana Cards were asked to stand aside while the rest, mostly Burkinabes/ Togolese were shot dead and their vehicles burnt.

The terrorists threats are real and closer to Ghanaians than we can imagine!

MINISTRY OF FINANCE DELAYS IN RELEASING FUNDS TO MOD/GAF?

I have done checks and very reliable sources at the Presidency, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance whispered that the following reasons are likely to be causing the financial crunch facing MOD and GAF:

(1). Commander-In-Chief Akufo-Addo is aware HIS SOLDIERS DO NOT HAVE RIFLES AND AMMUNITION.

(2). Commander-In- Chief Akufo-Addo pretends to be upset with Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta for ignoring his (Akufo-Addo’s) instructions to release the requisite funds to the Ministry of Defence and/or the Ghana Armed Forces.

(3). The Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta pretends to assure Commander-In- Chief Akufo-Addo that he will release funds to the MOD/GAF. NOTHING IS RELEASED!

Fellow Ghanaians, the serious situation facing your soldiers from the financial crunch is that *THEY DO NOT HAVE RIFLES AND AMMUNITION.* Yet, your soldiers are expected to counter and deter Terrorist Armed Groups!!

ALL DIE BE DIE!!

I shall return.

Owula Mangortey
Bawku
22nd August, 2023