Ghana’s military is politicised - Nunoo-Mensah

A former National Security advisor, Brigadier General Joseph Nunoo Mensah, is claiming Ghana’s military has been politicised; something he says is affecting the efficient execution of its mandate. “Unfortunately today in Ghana, every institution has become political.

Even the military has become political,” he said on 3FM’s Sunrise morning show on Wednesday. He claimed when they were being trained as military personnel, they were told not to mix politics with the military but they eventually “suffered for that”. “I was banned from visiting military institutions for having lunch with former President Rawlings.

That was my crime so I was banned from entering Burma Camp, even if I am dying, I couldn’t visit the 37 Military Hospital for medical attention,” he added.

He was commenting on the recent criticisms of the Bureau of National Investigations, especially in the wake of the arrest of a Ghanaian-Lebanses, Fadi Dabbousie, which has caused many to accuse it of being an appendage of the government.

Brig. Nunoo Mensah, who is also former Director of the Military Intelligence Unit, said the BNI should be seen to be protecting all Ghanaians, saying, “they should protect every Ghanaian.

“I am not going to excuse anybody but whatever the BNI is today, is what it was under the NPP [News Patriotic Party],” he added.

He observed how politicians from various governments have used the BNI to do their bidding, saying the BNI “has been used by politicians, not today but over the years which is not right.”

He admitted that he had to toe that line as a young officer at the time but was quick to advise security personnel to uphold their integrity.