Military not short cut to seat of government - Col. Amuzu

Colonel Michael Amuzu, Deputy Director of dministration of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Thursday said the military should not be seen as the shortest route to the seat of government.

He said this at a day's seminar on Civil -Military Relations organised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) at Takoradi.

Col. Amuzu warned that the military alone could not foil a coup attempt if the civilians did not support them.

He said support given to coup makers nationwide, has hindered the armed forces from effectively foiling them.

Col. Amuzu, however, appealed to Ghanaians to forgive and forget whatever reasons that compelled a few military men to take over the reigns of government.

"Even though past military governments might have chalked limited positive results, the overall feeling is that constitutional rule can only exist if Ghanaians elect their leaders through the ballot box."

Col. Amuzu urged civilians to take the necessary steps to resist future coups, which might disrupt the nation's democratic achievements.

Col. Amuzu noted that hatred, laziness and self-inflicted frustrations make many Ghanaians use the military to settle personal and domestic scores.

He said though the military has carved a bad name for itself, during their involvement in previous governments for the past 20 years, the society's doubt about the military was still present.

He said the proliferation of private security companies in the country was a major contributory factor to the increasing incidence of armed robbery in the country.

Apart from their training, most of them wear uniforms similar to that of the military thus deceiving the public about their real identities.

Col. Amuzu charged all Ghanaians to question and arrest anyone in military uniform engaged in any negative act.

Mrs Abena Manful, Principal Legal Officer and Special Assistant to the Commissioner of CHRAJ, in her lecture on: 'Human Rights in Civil-Military Relations",advised the Ghanaians to stop using state institutions to harass and intimidate each other.

"If someone does not share the same views and ideas with you, that does not allow you to use the military and other state organs to threaten them."

Mrs Manful charged all Ghanaians to sacrifice and be bold and speak out to ensure that democracy works in the country.

"If we are going to enjoy the benefits of freedom and human rights, we need to talk since the Constitution alone cannot defend itself and protect our democracy."

Mrs Manful appealed to the military not to allow anyone to use them in settling personal scores and in any unprofessional job.

Dr Baffour Agyeman-Duah, Associate Executive Director of CDD, said the involvement of the military in partisan politics coupled with the brutalisation of civilians were major factors that have contributed to the strained relations between them and the populace.

He, therefore, appealed to it to establish an effective public relations department to erase disabuse the wrong notion that Ghanaians have about the Military.

Dr Agyeman-Duah said that a survey conducted by CDD indicated that 87 per cent of Ghanaians were against the military engaging in debt collection and the eviction of tenants while 74 per cent were in favour of their involvement in patrol duties and arresting of criminals.

He advised the military to endeavour to avoid negative encounters with civilians and relate to them in a humane way.