In an interview with Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, October 15, Dr. Seidu argued that using the military for internal security is a secondary function and should not be misused.
“The way the military is being deployed is a violation of our constitution. Under Clause 3 of Article 210, the military's primary mandate is defense against external threats. While the Ghana Armed Forces can have a role in internal security, that is secondary, and I believe we are abusing this function,” he explained.
On Thursday, October 10, the government deployed over 100 armed military personnel to various water bodies in a renewed effort to curb galamsey. This action followed mounting pressure from over 50 state and civil society organizations, urging the government to address the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, which has severely impacted Ghana’s water bodies, farmlands, and forests.
Dr. Seidu also revealed that some within the military are displeased with these deployments.
“The military is a conservative, self-contained institution, and not typically outspoken. I know of military personnel who are unhappy with how they are being misused. When faced with serious policy issues, we often turn to the military out of convenience or laziness. These operations are often tainted by corruption, and no soldier feels comfortable participating, yet they cannot voice their concerns openly,” he said.