A large number of pilots in the Ghana Air Force have abandoned the military and retired, a report by Parliament’s Defense and Home Affairs Committee has revealed.
According to the Department of Defense’s Committee on Budget Estimates report, the main reason for the high attrition rate is that there is a shortage of aircraft for these pilots to use, creating a surplus of pilots.
Ophelia Mensah-Hayford, vice chair of the Defense and Internal Affairs Committee, spoke on the floor of Congress and recommended the Air Force urgently purchase new aircraft to prevent further attrition.
Mr. Chairman, when your committee met in considering the budget estimates for the Department of Defense, several observations and recommendations were made. Mr. Chairman, I would like to bring one of the important observations to the floor. I think it’s important or necessary to get more aircraft for conservation purposes.
Ministry of Defense Budget: Ghana Air Force pilots take off due to unavailability of aircraft – Deputy Chairperson of the Defense and Home Affairs Committee, Ophelia Mensah-Hayford. #joynews pic.twitter.com/tCcfP45j6v
— Joy News (@JoyNewsOnTV) December 18, 2023
“It is important to recognize that air combat capabilities are needed to strengthen the surveillance of the country’s airspace, especially in the wake of terrorism in the West African region. Additional logistics such as executive aircraft, fighter jets, and helicopters must be acquired.
“It is concerning that the Ghana Armed Forces has recently suffered from a decline in the number of trained pilots. It is therefore important that the Ghana Air Force takes immediate steps to increase its aircraft fleet to stop this phenomenon.” she said.
Meanwhile, the committee’s senior member, James Agaluga, said the Ministry of Defense should end the practice of renting accommodation to soldiers in civilian areas.
He said the practice breeds indiscipline among soldiers and reduces the fear civilians are expected to have of military personnel.
“Well done, the Ministry of Defense was able to establish new units in the army. If you look at that report, it mentions the establishment of 10th, 11th and 12th mechanized battalions in Wa, Bolgatanga and Sandema.
“Mr Chairman, unfortunately there are no corresponding provisions regarding suitable accommodation for accommodating personnel who are being recruited to serve in newly established units. A lack of accommodation for the armed forces creates problems of indiscipline, as the military is constrained from renting accommodation for soldiers in civilian spaces.
“And when soldiers mix so freely with civilians, Mr. Chairman, it’s dangerous. They can even undermine military discipline in the process. Soldiers are to be feared… They only do so in times of trouble or real danger. “They should mingle with civilians, but in this case they are restricted from renting civilian accommodation,” he said.
He called on the government to increase military spending in response to violent extremism in Ghana’s northern region and across its borders.
Meanwhile, Parliament approved a total of 3.8 billion cedis for the Ministry of Defense.
Disclaimer: The views, comments, opinions, contributions and statements made by readers and contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Multimedia Group Limited.