Minority Criticises Government Over Troop Deployment to Jamaica and Benin Without Parliamentary Approval

John Ntim Fordjour, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, has criticized the government. He said the government sent Ghanaian troops to Jamaica and Benin without asking Parliament first. He called this decision flawed and lacking transparency.

The Assin South MP argued that the deployments, which he described as “misguided,” were carried out without proper scrutiny to assess the financial implications, duration of the missions, and the safety of personnel, particularly in regions facing volatile security challenges. According to him, Parliament was bypassed entirely despite its constitutional oversight role.

Mr. Ntim Fordjour stressed that parliamentary approval is essential to enable lawmakers to interrogate the cost, scope, and nature of such military operations. He noted that while the Minority has no objection to Ghana assisting friendly nations, due process must be followed to ensure accountability. He warned against running state affairs as though Ghana was a one-party state.

Drawing comparisons, he questioned why Parliament was consulted over the procurement of military helicopters but ignored when it came to deploying troops abroad. He also criticised the internal deployment of security personnel in Accra, suggesting that such resources would be better utilised in conflict-prone areas like Bawku, illegal mining (galamsey) sites, and Gbenyiri. The Minority has consequently demanded immediate explanations from the Minister for Defence and all relevant security agencies.

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