Military Cautions Media Against "Speculative Journalism”

The Ministry of Defence has reiterated its call on the media to stop speculative journalism, which seeks to create panic and anxiety.

Reacting to two separate publications in the Chronicle and Free Press at a press conference in Accra, Defence Minister, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, MP urged the media to crosscheck their information, especially on matters concerning the nation's security.

The Chronicle in its October 25 edition, titled: "Hidden weapons a threat to NPP government," alleged that a large cache of arms and ammunition was uncovered in the home of a soldier with the 64 Infantry Regiment saying this posed a threat to the government.

The Free Press in its October 29 edition titled: "Another 64 Battalion in the making?" alleged that about 150 soldiers from the Second Battalion of Infantry based at Takoradi have been camped at Shai Hills for two months to be trained as elite presidential guards.

Dr Addo Kufuor said such publications do not only do the nation a great disservice but also create doubts in the minds of potential investors.

He expressed his ministry's readiness to cooperate with the press on sensitive information on the nation's security before they are disseminated.

Commenting on Chronicle's publication, he said although the Ghana Journalists Association has asked the paper to retract the story, it has failed to give it much publicity.

Major General C.B. Yaache, Army Commander, denied that weapons were retrieved in the home of a soldier believed to be with the 64 Infantry Regiment.

He said only one weapon was found and this has been handed over to the military.

GAF says it has an inventory of weapons collected and submitted adding that all movements of weapons are strictly restricted. "We are aware of government's policy of retrieving all illegal weapons in the country."

On the publication in the Free Press, Major General Yaache said the GAF was not training what the paper described as elite presidential guards. Rather, it is an ongoing exercise, which is mounted by the Force to retrain and sharpen the skills of soldiers.

Chief of the Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Seth Obeng, assured Ghanaians that the GAF does not give preferential treatment to soldiers adding all soldiers are treated equally.

The Army says it is not setting up any new unit to replace the 64 Infantry Regiment. The CDF said they would continue with "contingency plans" to maintain professionalism in the GAF.