VICE ADMIRAL SETH AMOAMA, are you sure you have the military personnel to counter a terrorist attack in the Upper East Region today?

I am a Citizen.

I rise to ask my brother Rear Admiral Seth Amoama, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, whether you have the Military personnel to deploy quickly to counter a terrorist attack in the Upper East Region today?

Background

I followed closely your Ghana Armed Forces arguments for establishing the 11th Mechanised Battalion barracks at Bazua and its HQ at Zaare-Bolgatanga, and the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) at Paga, Mognori, Polimakom and Woriyanga.

On different occasions, I visited and interacted with your soldiers at the Bazua barracks and its satellite FOBs.

I studied carefully your tanks, vehicles and equipment outlay and personnel numbers and troops movements in the Upper East Region during the rainy and the dry seasons.

I followed and studied your Excise Eagle’s Claws, Operation Conquered Fist and recently, Operation Koundalgou IV with Burkina Faso and Togo.

I noted and studied your soldiers’ numbers, tanks and vehicles used in providing security before, during and after the visit of your Commander-in-Chief to address the Ghana Bar Association Conference at Bolgatanga on 12th September, 2021.

I studied your soldiers’ deployment during the Military/Marine Police/ NADMO joint operation in readiness for the expected spillage of water from Burkina Faso’s Kompienga and Bagre dams in late August and early September this year.

Comparison with the present situation.

I studied your deployment from Tamale of one platoon from ABF and another platoon from 6Bn to reinforce security at Bawku as the Kusasi/Mamprusi conflict reared its ugly head.

I studied the visit of your Brigadier-General Moses Aryee, General Officer Commanding Northern Command, to Bawku on 2nd December, 2021, accompanied by Colonel Michael Opoku and Colonel Emmanuel Sampson.

I noted your number of soldiers on anti-armed robbery duty at Mouri on the Garu to Nankpanduri road.

I noted your number of soldiers stationed on the road near the Garu District Assembly.

I noted your abandonment of the Military base at Woriyanga even though you are supposed to keep troops and tanks there.

I noted your number of soldiers and tanks at the Polimakom base.

I noted your number of soldiers and tanks at Mognori.

I noted your number of soldiers and tanks at the Bazua Military barracks.

I noted the absence of your Military tank and personnel stationed at Doba on the Bolgatanga-Navrongo road.

I noted your number of soldiers and tanks at the Paga base which is actually a walled bungalow number 113A belonging to the Kassena-Nankana West District Assembly.

Peace Keeping Operations

I noted that your Ghana Armed Forces are responding to requests from the United Nations for additional troops for Peace Keeping Operations in the Central Africa Republic, where your Ghanaian soldiers and Ghana Armed Forces hope to earn some foreign exchange.

A few Questions

Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, I have read carefully your remit as CDS under Section 8(2)(a) of the Ghana,Armed Forces Act 1962, Act 105, which charges you with “the responsibility of administration of the Ghana Armed Forces as a whole.”

So, I have these few questions for your attention:

(1). Is your additionally responsibility of Peace Keeping Operations in the Central Africa Republic and the lure of foreign exchange causing a deficit in Military personnel and tanks in the Upper East Region dedicated to countering and preventing violent extremism and terrorism?

(2). Do you have the required number of military personnel and tanks from the 11th Mechanised Battalion and its satellite FOBs to deploy quickly if there is a terrorist attack today?

(3). Does your Ghana Armed Forces love the people of the Central Africa Republic more than the people of the Upper East Region who are facing external threats from extremists and terrorists?

I await your answers, Sir.

Owula Mangortey

Kulungugu

12th December, 2021

Note:

Owula Mangortey appears on Fridays (8.30-10:00) on #asaasebreakfastshow @AsaaseRadio 99.5 FM