There has been an entrenched argument on the floor of parliament over government’s policy to increase the number of years that one can serve in the military.
The Legislative Instrument to increase the service years for other ranks in the military from 25 to 30 years, matured on Monday, but according to the Minority Spokesperson on Defence and Interior, James Agalga, the new directive is misplaced and would only weaken the agility of the country’s reputable Armed Forces.
[contextly_sidebar id=”uYIfD4AHpGwHUnWniTgdhpU9PUONjory”]Contributing to the 2019 budget debate on the security sector, James Agalga said the policy has not been thought-through properly by the government.
“…The point that needs to be made is that, we are here talking about a fighting force. A fighting force is one that must be agile and youthful. But a policy which seeks to extend the service period of the other ranks from 25 years to 30 years in my view is a misplaced priority and should not be pursued.”
Agalga argued that “a fighting force which is aged, cannot have the spirit and efficiency to defend our territorial integrity.”
He explained that in the UK, the maximum period for service men and women is 22 years, while it is 18 years in USA.
“So we are even advanced in terms of the service period because ours is 25, and now we are seeking to extend it to 30 years.”
He also complained about the health implications the policy will bring as well as the toll it will have on the country’s finances with regards to salary payments.
“Have we thought about the health implications? The fact that the extension of service is going to place a burden on our financial resources because we have to spend money on the health needs of our troops,” Agalga quizzed.
But the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul disagreed.
He said the former Deputy Interior Minister does not have a proper appreciation of the new policy.
“This policy was brought to this House in the form of L.I. (L.I. 1332). This Parliament has accepted it. As at yesterday [Monday], the 21 days elapsed and it has become law. So if the honourable member is now coming back to debate this matter that is up to him because he was part of the committee that looked at it and approved it. It has become law and now he is here misleading the people of Ghana. He should go back and look at it properly,” he added.
NPP promised review of retirement in 2016
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) prior to the 2016 general elections promised to increase the retirement age of recruits.
Nitiwul, who was then the Chairman of the NPP’s sub-committee on Defense and Interior, said, “the convention of allowing our men to retire after serving 25 years particularly the other ranks, will be reviewed to look at the possibility of adding five more years. That means that, unless you want to retire voluntarily, you would have the opportunity to retire after 30 years in the force,” he added.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Duke M. Opoku | citinewsroom.com | Ghana
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