Prof. Kwesi Aning, a well-known security consultant, has expressed alarm about the country’s high level of corruption, which has practically become the standard.
Speaking at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College’s Republic Day Lecture, Prof. Aning emphasized that corruption is the most important and persistent threat to the country’s security, surpassing other concerns such as extremism.
He asked the military to perform detailed analyses to understand the networks, interdependencies, and instruments required to address the consequences of corruption.
“Mr. [Francis] Poku spoke about operations not being politicized, which I believe we all know the answer to. So, what are the primary security threats that the military must address? Mr. Poku discusses major risks, which are constantly fluid and changing, so what is genuine extremism today could be sanitation tomorrow. But the most persistent and ongoing threat to this country is corruption.”
The military, in my opinion, needs to conduct a consistent threat assessment and analysis regarding the next impact of corruption, the networks, interdependencies, and interrelationships that exist, as well as how and what tools are available for a response. This is because we have become so corrupt that it is the glue holding the country together.
Prof. Aning also emphasized the grave risk that illicit mining, or galamsey, poses to Ghana’s national security, pointing out the startling increase in the country’s armaments trade and the illicit money flows that come from foreign parties that engage in galamsey.
BY: APPIANIMAA MERCY
