Former Defence Minister and Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, has identified inadequate housing as the most pressing challenge facing the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

0

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Nitiwul disclosed that many soldiers, especially those stationed in Accra, no longer reside in the barracks due to the shortage of accommodation. Instead, they are compelled to rent private residences within civilian communities.

1

“Soldiers should be in the barracks and not in a rented apartment or even in your house outside the barracks. But now, accommodation is one of the biggest challenges,” he said.

2

Expressing concern over the impact of this situation, he noted that living outside the barracks exposes personnel to external influences, making it harder to maintain military discipline.

3

“We started some construction, but the pace was slow because we do not have adequate resources. So when you want to mobilize soldiers or instill a particular style of discipline, it may be difficult,” he added.

4

According to him, the ideal housing arrangement for a young soldier should be a two-bedroom apartment. He, however, assured that the Akufo-Addo administration took steps to address the problem by initiating and commissioning several housing projects for the military.

5