Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has categorically dismissed allegations that the Akufo-Addo administration politicised the Ghana Armed Forces by assigning soldiers to high-profile individuals.
The administration faced criticism over claims that military personnel were deployed to protect the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, former Attorney General Godfred Dame, and Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
Speaking in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s Face to Face, Nitiwul explained that such assignments were based on genuine security concerns rather than political favouritism.
Nitiwul also mentioned that some individuals involved in prosecutorial roles were under threat, warranting military protection.
“I’m even surprised that you picked isolated incidents and used them. We don’t have less than 20, 000 soldiers. We didn’t have 20, 000 soldiers following human beings, politicians or businessmen. We didn’t have that.
“We had isolated cases, if we felt that you were doing a particular job for Ghanaians and your life was in danger to the extent that we needed soldiers to protect you, I would willingly give you soldiers to protect you.
“Police were there as well, at a point, we felt that the Electoral Commissioner needed and still needs soldiers and police to protect her.
“I think that she even needs soldiers now more than before, not just soldiers, but security around her more than before. At a point, we felt that some individuals who were prosecuting people, their lives were in danger.”
