Editorial News of Wednesday, 16 June 1999

Source: --

Weekly Insight



Big trouble in the Army



With a screaming headline "Big Trouble in the Army", the Weekly Insight says a secret report circulating among the commanding officers of the Ghana Armed Forces suggests that the institution is nothing more or less tahn a ke of gun powder just waiting to explode.

The story says the six page report, clearly marked " RESTRICTED ", hints that many soldiers are angry about the economic conditions in the country, claiming that insufficient pay has led them to be borrowing.

The report, according to the story, also indicates that the soldiers are alleging that with their little salaries, they are unable to save while medical bills and school fees of their dependants are left unpaid.

The Weekly Insight further quotes the report that the refusal of bank loans to the soldiers has forced some of them into shylock money lenders hands.

Many soldiers interviewed, according the paper, said openly that they found it difficult to remain loyal to the army because of the absence of freedom and justice in the institution, advancing reasons that include unfairness in promotion and senior officers chasing wives of their junior colleagues.