The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled plans to reset and enhance the security sector if the party wins the 2024 elections.
These initiatives aim to modernize and reform the security services to better address contemporary threats and improve rehabilitation efforts within the prison system.
During a press briefing, Peter Lanchene Toobu, the NDC Manifesto spokesperson on Security, outlined several key initiatives, including the recruitment of 2,500 additional security personnel to police a 24-hour economy, the construction of military hospitals in Bolgatanga, Ho, and Sefwi-Wiawso, and the renaming of the Ghana Prisons Service to the Ghana Correctional Center.
“Effective January 7, 2025, and I think the president made it very clear that within 14 days his cabinet will be in place. That is a very serious-minded person. One with the military, and I know they are watching me and they are excited that I am speaking because you know what I know and you know what we can do. Anytime the NDC is in power, men and women in uniform, I can tell you are always excited because morale is always very high.
“We are going to construct housing units and refurbish dilapidated and abandoned housing units across the country. We are going to establish the Armed Forces Home Ownership scheme for all personnel and officers. We are going to review and adjust the salaries and allowances of troops and defence civilian staff to align with changing realities.
“We will complete and equip the Kumasi Military Hospital at Afari in the Central Command. We will initiate the construction of military hospitals in Ho, Bolgatanga and Sehwi Wiawso. We will establish the Veterans Referral Department in the military hospital across the country. This excites me. Our men and women in uniform when they retire we should continue to revere them. Why would a retired officer go to a hospital and go and join a queue? We should have a specialised department to give them that special attention that they desire having served the nation sometimes 20 years, some of them 30 years and some of them even more.
“We will ensure transparency in the selection process for peace support operations. We will expand and equip the field Engineers Corps to undertake national emergency projects, road construction and balance to undertake commercial ventures of the government,” he stated.
He continued: “For the other security agencies in no particular order. I just picked some of the policies that I want to highlight for them to understand that the NDC is so comprehensive in thinking about what we can do to reset the security sector.”
