A Physical Training Instructor with the Ghana Armed Forces, Twumasi Barimah, popularly known as the Commander General, has criticised Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George over his public confrontation with a military lieutenant at Ningo-Prampram.
Barimah questioned the minister’s decision to publicly challenge the officer and disclose his service number, arguing that he should have first sought clarification about the military operation before making comments.
He also warned that the minister’s remarks could fuel hostility towards soldiers among residents of the constituency.
In his criticism, the Commander General accused Sam George of allowing his emotions to influence his public statements.
“It has gotten to the point where you are quick-tempered and your inability to control your emotions has led you to publicly mention the service number of a lieutenant. Your statement also appears to be instigating the public by suggesting that the next time the lieutenant or any soldier comes around, he will face the laws of the streets,” he said.
Barimah further questioned the minister’s understanding of military operations, insisting that he should have taken time to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“George, you don’t understand how the military operates. Even the signing of rifles for a place led by a lieutenant, you don’t understand how operations work. So, since you have said your friend and colleague is the Minister of Defence, you should have taken your time.
“You should have come down and found out. Calling the lieutenant a mere lieutenant? No. Do you know what it takes to become a lieutenant? And you are calling the lieutenant a disgrace to the Ghana Armed Forces? No. Come back again, Honourable,” he stated.
He cautioned the minister against making public pronouncements without first understanding the full circumstances of military operations.
Barimah ended his criticism with a warning that Sam George could one day find himself in a difficult position if he continued with such conduct.
“You see, sometimes, some of you think you are right because you believe you know better. You think you are right. You think you are right. You will one day find yourself in somebody’s left. I am telling you the truth. Take it straight,” he warned.
What triggered the disagreement?
The criticism follows Sam George’s confrontation with a military officer identified as Lieutenant Albert Goh over allegations of harassment and the seizure of trucks in the Ningo-Prampram Constituency.
The minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for the area, alleged that the lieutenant had led heavily armed soldiers into the constituency and seized several trucks without lawful authorisation.
He described the alleged conduct of the soldiers as similar to armed robbery and called on the Chief of Defence Staff to take disciplinary action against the officer.
During his public remarks, Sam George disclosed the lieutenant’s service number, 5666, and warned that soldiers who returned to the area to brutalise residents would face the consequences.
“Any soldier who comes to Ningo-Prampram to brutalise the people of Ningo-Prampram again, you will face the law of the streets. The streets. Because it means you have breached your oath as a soldier,” he said.
He also described Lieutenant Goh as a disgrace to the Ghana Armed Forces and demanded his dismissal.
The minister further alleged that the soldiers had taken trucks belonging to residents without lawful orders and kept the vehicles for about two weeks.
He said he intended to discuss the matter with the Minister of Defence to ensure that the military investigated the incident and held any officers found responsible accountable.
Sam George also claimed that the soldiers had disrespected a police commander who attempted to intervene, alleging that some of them cocked their weapons at the senior police officer.
He maintained that residents of Ningo-Prampram deserved justice and insisted that the matter would be pursued through the appropriate military disciplinary channels.
The two accounts reflect opposing positions on the confrontation. While Sam George has called for disciplinary action over the alleged conduct of the soldiers, Barimah has questioned the minister’s approach and urged him to exercise restraint.
