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9th April, 2010
CIVILIANS IN MILITARY UNIFORM
Reports of armed civilians firing at military personnel in the north this week have sent
shock-waves within the circles of right-thinking persons in the society.
It is a reversal of roles, considered against the background of history in a country where, once upon a time, it was the civilians that used to taste the ugly side of the military.
In the past when the country had military regimes, it was not uncommon to hear cases of
uniformed personnel directing their anger and warfare tactics on the very people they were
supposed to be training to protect.
The situation, quite naturally, engendered animosity and sometimes downright hatred for
the military. Such was the extent of the military-civilian mistrust, and the fear of the military by civilians, that there was not a single military occasion when their Commanders or Generals and ministers of defence did not use the platform to chastise the troops, calling some of them bullies.
Fortunately the incident in the north is an isolated one. We pray that it remains so. As an aside, the Times wishes to observe, with sadness, that the perpetrators dared to do what they did because they knew they would not be touched.
How this exercise in impunity became a culture in Ghanaian life is hard to fathom. Obviously, the security agencies fear to touch them because of perceived political clout some of the civilians may have.
The incident is also significant as the Military Academy and Training School prepares to celebrate 50 years of its existence. As students, troops and Commanders review 50 years of service, we are pleased to note that the need for military-civilian co-operation has been given such prominence.
As part of activities to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Ghana’s independence, the
Eastern Naval Command of the Ghana Armed Forces recently opened its doors for the
civilian population with a view of exposing them to facilities at the various military barracks and educating them on the mode of operations of the military.
The programme attracted about 4,000 visitors mostly from basic and senior high schools,
church groups and youth associations from various parts of the country to the Tema Naval Base where they were conducted round the base and later embarked on an hour long sea
trip on board two naval ships.
The First Battalion of Infantry at Michel Camp also received about 2,000 visitors who were
treated to bomb displays, small arms firing and obstacle crossing by the military personnel.
The Times is delighted by the steps being taken by the military to integrate the civilian population into the mainstream of its operations. It has been observed that a soldier is a civilian in military uniform.
We believe that this is the truism which the military hierarchy wishes to operationalise. And we dare say that it has been well thought out.
Somebody at the top has suddenly become public relations-conscious, and as we commend this consciousness, we pray that it be made to permeate the entire institution of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Long live military-civilian co-operation.
shock-waves within the circles of right-thinking persons in the society.
It is a reversal of roles, considered against the background of history in a country where, once upon a time, it was the civilians that used to taste the ugly side of the military.
In the past when the country had military regimes, it was not uncommon to hear cases of
uniformed personnel directing their anger and warfare tactics on the very people they were
supposed to be training to protect.
The situation, quite naturally, engendered animosity and sometimes downright hatred for
the military. Such was the extent of the military-civilian mistrust, and the fear of the military by civilians, that there was not a single military occasion when their Commanders or Generals and ministers of defence did not use the platform to chastise the troops, calling some of them bullies.
Fortunately the incident in the north is an isolated one. We pray that it remains so. As an aside, the Times wishes to observe, with sadness, that the perpetrators dared to do what they did because they knew they would not be touched.
How this exercise in impunity became a culture in Ghanaian life is hard to fathom. Obviously, the security agencies fear to touch them because of perceived political clout some of the civilians may have.
The incident is also significant as the Military Academy and Training School prepares to celebrate 50 years of its existence. As students, troops and Commanders review 50 years of service, we are pleased to note that the need for military-civilian co-operation has been given such prominence.
As part of activities to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Ghana’s independence, the
Eastern Naval Command of the Ghana Armed Forces recently opened its doors for the
civilian population with a view of exposing them to facilities at the various military barracks and educating them on the mode of operations of the military.
The programme attracted about 4,000 visitors mostly from basic and senior high schools,
church groups and youth associations from various parts of the country to the Tema Naval Base where they were conducted round the base and later embarked on an hour long sea
trip on board two naval ships.
The First Battalion of Infantry at Michel Camp also received about 2,000 visitors who were
treated to bomb displays, small arms firing and obstacle crossing by the military personnel.
The Times is delighted by the steps being taken by the military to integrate the civilian population into the mainstream of its operations. It has been observed that a soldier is a civilian in military uniform.
We believe that this is the truism which the military hierarchy wishes to operationalise. And we dare say that it has been well thought out.
Somebody at the top has suddenly become public relations-conscious, and as we commend this consciousness, we pray that it be made to permeate the entire institution of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Long live military-civilian co-operation.
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