Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, former Deputy Minister of Education, has criticized the government’s decision to deploy Ghanaian soldiers to Jamaica and Benin, describing the move as a misplaced priority in the face of pressing domestic challenges.
According to him, the country’s security forces would be better utilised in the fight against illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, which continues to threaten Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.
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Rev. Fordjour made the remarks in a public comment shared on social media and amplified by a communication team member of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Awal Mohammed under the hashtag #Letswatchit. He argued that while international cooperation and peacekeeping remain important, Ghana’s environmental crisis demands urgent and decisive internal action.
“The protection of our water bodies and forest reserves should be a top national priority. Deploying soldiers to galamsey-prone areas will help safeguard our natural resources and the livelihoods of future generations,” Rev. Fordjour noted.
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Ghana has over the years deployed troops to support regional and international security operations, a move authorities often justify as part of the country’s commitment to global peace and diplomacy. However, critics insist that worsening environmental degradation and water pollution at home require the immediate attention of the military and other security agencies.
Illegal mining has been blamed for the pollution of major rivers, destruction of farmlands, and increased cost of water treatment, sparking widespread public concern.
Rev. Fordjour’s comments have since generated mixed reactions on social media, with some Ghanaians agreeing that domestic security and environmental protection should take precedence, while others defend Ghana’s role in international peacekeeping efforts.
