Motion on regional balance in GAF defeated
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 June 2000
The motion on regional balance into the Ghana Armed Forces tabled by a private member failed to get support of the majority as they voted 69 against 38 to dismiss it on Wednesday.
A move made by the Speaker to broker a compromise between the two sides on the motion failed to materialise on Tuesday after it had moved on and off the floor of the House awaiting positive responses since last Thursday.
The owner of the motion, Mr Agyare Koi-Larbi, NPP told the house that if he lost support but the substance of the motion is implemented, he would be glad "but if the vote is lost and they refuse to be mindful then God help them and Ghana."
He had argued that CI 12, the regulations of the Ghana Armed Forces, does not contain any such regulation that calls for regional balance.
He said the "often reference to" statistics of the force as classified or the non-existence of data on the regional composition do not help in any way because information technology had made bare data on strength and arsenal of armies all over the world.
The member said he believed that those, who opposed the motion, are not interested in fairness since he wanted a perfect future for the Ghana Armed Forces.
Mr Joe Donkor, NPP-Tano South, said the debate could have been well guided with data, which according to him exist but only needed to be compiled. He described the situation as a great deception of the people of Ghana.
Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, NPP-Afigya Sekyere West, said that speculations and perceptions that allude to tribal, regional and political division in the Ghana Armed Force exist.
He said these issues are normally discussed openly and found the hesitation of the Minister of Defence to provide data on the subject as fuelling the perception.
The member said the disturbing aspect of it all is that certain retired officers of the force hold the belief that they were forced to retire because of their ethnicity.
Mr Kan-Dapaah said the Armed Forces should not be seen as an untouchable estate and that any issue concerning it should, be addressed by all.
Mr Sylvester A Mensah, NDC-Dade Kotopon, called on the house to investigate the allegation made by Mr Kan-Dapaah since they were very serious.
Mr Fuzzy Torbey,NDC-Okere, called the motion "unpopular" saying the minority is trying to destroy the nation by it.
GRi../