Security analyst Dr. Ishmael Norman has revealed a troubling gap in Ghana’s internal security operations.
He has criticized the absence of a standard operating manual for military involvement in domestic civil disturbances.
Speaking on the KeyPoints on August 2, Dr. Norman said, “Even when I was researching this area for a paper, I couldn’t get a copy of any manual guiding the Army’s engagement in domestic unrest.” While international peacekeeping missions come with structured rules, training, and documented procedures, he argued that soldiers deployed for local operations such as those during the Volta Region floods or the current mission in Bawku often operate without clear guidelines. You need to create a manual. There’s no blueprint. When they go for international peacekeeping, there’s a manual; they follow it,” he said.
He pointed out that Ghana often fails to train its soldiers in simulation exercises, which are crucial for preparing them for on-ground realities and split-second decisions in civilian settings.
The lack of such preparation, he warns, can lead to avoidable errors and tragic outcomes.
“We are setting soldiers up to fail. And it’s not their fault; it’s the system’s failure to prepare them adequately,” he said. He issued a strong caution against the nature of Ghana’s recent military deployment to Bawku, suggesting the move could replicate the violent outcomes witnessed during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.
Dr. Norman raised concerns about the military’s preparedness for such domestic peace enforcement operations.
According to him, most soldiers lack adequate training in community engagement, de-escalation, and conflict management, skills necessary for handling volatile civilian environments.
“The average soldier’s instinct, when feeling threatened, is to shoot,” he said.
“They are not trained to de-escalate. They are trained to collapse escalation.”
Dr. Norman contrasted this with the police force, noting that even though the police may not always meet expectations, they have at least some exposure to protocols in community conflict management.
“My fear,” he added, “is that a soldier cannot say, ‘I won’t go.’ Whether he has the skills or not, once the command is given, they follow. And that’s dangerous.” He emphasized that without the proper peace enforcement training, especially in a highly charged setting like Bawku, the country risks repeating mistakes.
