Appointments Committee Vetting of Minister for Defence Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah (4)

Omane Boamah: Yes, because we served on the transition committee together. And I had to also, as chairperson for two subcommittees, I had to also sit in as chair for the infrastructure subcommittee, and he was the chairperson there. So, we co-chaired that, and subsequently, we also discussed the Ministry of Defence when my appointment was announced.

Afenyo-Markin: Per your date of birth, you were 75 born, correct?

Omane Boamah: True.

Afenyo-Markin: And by the public records of Honourable Nitiwul, he’s a 1977 born. I’m disclosing that to you.

Omane Boamah: He’s my junior brother.

Afenyo-Markin: I’m saying that he’s a 77 born. So, with the benefit of that, what inspiration do you draw from him? He being younger your age, but having successfully managed the ministry for eight years. How does that inspire you as you get into the ministry? How does that inspire you?

Omane Boamah: I don’t think I would want to engage in ageism, as in young person or old person. Look, young people in this republic have served our nation very well. Old people have also served our nation very well. And the converse is true. Some young people have also performed terribly, and some old people have also performed terribly. So, I always don’t like it when we try to frame appointment of young people around their ages. And then, when it comes to appointing old people, we seem to think that is okay.

Afenyo-Markin: Relax, you are not in a box. You are not in a box. Back to your CV. You have item three on page two of your CV. Minister, Ministry of Communication, February 2013 to January 2017. Then, next one. Spokesperson to the President of the Republic of Ghana. And minister responsible for information. July 2014 to January 2017. Please clarify that for us.

Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. The evidence speaks for itself. Between 2013 and 2017, I was a minister for communications. So, for the entire four years, I was a minister for communications. Between July 2014, that is one and a half years after becoming minister for communications, ministry of information and the responsibility to speak for the President was added to my portfolio.

And so, that also lasted up to January 2017. So, if you put these two, let’s say, on a time scale, you realise that the ministry of communications one will start, and then the information one will be one and a half years afterwards. But they all terminated at the same point, January 2017. Specifically, 6th of January.

Afenyo-Markin: Which means that within that period, the information ministry was collapsed?

Omane Boamah: It was realigned. It was merged with the ministry of communications.

Afenyo-Markin: Doc, when your party was drafting, was enacting its manifesto, did you play any role in the enactment regarding the defence policy of the manifesto?

Omane Boamah: Yes, because, and it’s not just in 2024. Since 2004, I’ve always had the privilege, whether directly at the committee level or after the document is put together, to review the entire document. And I remember very well, reviewing the 2024 one, I was far away in London when the document was sent to me, and I reviewed it.

Afenyo-Markin: So, you were not actively part, so to speak?

Omane Boamah: Actively part how? To review an entire document is a very laborious and energy-sapping job. So, it was a very active process.

Afenyo-Markin: So, what you’re suggesting to this committee is that you were being prepared for this portfolio from what you’re just saying?

Omane Boamah: I was asked to review the entire manifesto. Mr. Chairman, that could mean I was being prepared for…

Afenyo-Markin: You mean the entire manifesto?

Omane Boamah: Yes.

Afenyo-Markin: No, no, no. That’s why I’m saying. Wait. You see, Doc, earlier I said, take it easy, you are not in the box. Perhaps you didn’t understand me. You see, I am asking you very specific questions. To enable us to make progress and finish quickly, you may have to pay attention to the specifics. When you do general, then I may have to do some follow-ups. You get what I mean? So, please, you pay attention. Let’s deal with the defence policy of your manifesto. I’m saying that the enactment of the defence policy in your manifesto, were you part of that enactment?

Omane Boamah: Can you explain? Are you saying that was Dr. Omane Boamah a member of the defence subcommittee of the manifesto committee?

Afenyo-Markin: It is so.

Omane Boamah: Thank you. No.

Afenyo-Markin: Since your nomination was sent to parliament, have you had the opportunity to engage the defence ministry and its hierarchy?

Omane Boamah: Yes, I’ve had the opportunity. And I’ve also had the opportunity to engage members of our defence subcommittee of the NDC manifesto.

Afenyo-Markin: Please, share with us. I believe they’ve taken you through an eight-year of an administration, the ups and downs. Share with us the success stories they shared with you during this debriefing.

Omane Boamah: Mr. Chairman, one, we’ve been able to sustain no terrorist attack within the territory of Ghana, which is good for our country. By the time we were leaving office, there had not been any such attack. And as we speak, there has also not been any such attack. Great for our country. Again, in terms of embarking on the modernisation of the army, the Ghana Armed Forces, we’ve seen increased recruitment. Of course, right here around this table, challenges like regional balance and the need to ensure equity and all those things have also been raised.

And gender and mainstreaming. That is also something that I would say was shared. Then the FOBs, that is the Forward Operating Bases that are being constructed. Unfortunately, implementation has not matched the intention behind it. And that is something that I will pursue critically if I’m given the nod. Then, in terms of modernisation efforts, we’re being made to procure some naval vessel. But intention is one thing. Being able to operationalise it. But because of the terrible economic situation, it became difficult for the government to be able to procure it.

And so, we believe that governance is a continuum. And when we say we want to modernise the Ghana Armed Forces, it is not just a one-off thing. It’s not an event. It will take the incremental additions that successive governments will be engaging in, to be able to get our country’s armed forces to the level that it must be.

And then, if I may add, also the alternate 37 military hospitals, that is also being considered. I have not seen it physically, so I cannot tell the stage where it is. Financing, financing arrangements and everything. But at the right time, I believe parliament will be seized with the right facts about them.

Afenyo-Markin: So, you’ve outlined seven success stories that at least the ministry has shared with you as achievements for the past eight years. You’ve also said that the terrible economic situation has affected one particular item.

Omane Boamah: In fact, it cuts through.

Afenyo-Markin: Right, it cuts through. Now, in terms of our military, in your briefing, did you come across any information to the effect that the men and women in uniform are owed salaries because of the economic situation we find ourselves? Whether they are owed, their salary payment is not up to date. Was there any such information?

Omane Boamah: I didn’t enquire about that. That is something that we can ascertain.

Afenyo-Markin: Given the opportunity, would you want to ascertain and get this committee to know?

Omane Boamah: I believe this is information that parliament even will have much more power to derive it than a minister designating it. It is even out of courtesy and in advancement of our democracy that a ministry will entertain a minister designating it. So, if parliament wants to know whether there are salary arrears regarding the military, it would be good for parliament to request. And fortunately, there is a finance minister in place. Maybe through that channel, you will be able to have good responses.

Afenyo-Markin: Honourable nominee, you are the sector minister designate. You have received a briefing. Obviously, the income, the salaries of soldiers are such a critical thing. It is not something to be taken for granted. I am saying that, don’t you think that if November or December were to be outstanding, you would have been told in the briefing?

Omane Boamah: It is my valued judgement that you are seeking to derive on something that the answer should be factual. So, I am saying that if parliament wishes to know this, parliament should write to the appropriate quarters. I cannot sit here and pass a value judgement of the many things that were discussed, how they should have prioritised that. I don’t want to go in that direction. What if I think so, and it ends up that my thinking may not be the exact situation. So, I am pleading with you.

Chairman: Well, question asked and answered. Let’s make progress.

Afenyo-Markin: Honourable nominee, my next set of questions (documents handed to nominee). I’ve numbered them, please. Okay. Please, let’s deal with number six, please. Please, are you there with me? On number six, was that document authored by you, please?

Omane Boamah: (Reads the document given to him) The NPP stopped spreading fake news from the Flagstaff House. We know the Bawumia campaign admits J.D. Mahama will win the December 7 elections. The NDC is not complacent. J.D. Mahama is focused on winning with two-thirds majority in parliament. NPP fix dumsor in the economy. Yes.

Afenyo-Markin: Now, let’s do with line one. Line one, first sentence. At the time you wrote this, was there any such place called Flagstaff House?

Omane Boamah: Mr. Chairman, it is only by the good nature of President Mahama that his administration has sustained the name as Jubilee House. Otherwise, by now, the name would have been changed to Flagstaff House again. We all knew the place as Flagstaff House. So, if you are referring to the seat of the President, that is Jubilee House, then that was referring to the Jubilee House. But everybody knows in this country, and this is not an official document. This is social media. If I write Flagstaff House, everybody knows exactly where I am referring to.

Afenyo-Markin: Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, you are on oath. I am asking you a very simple question. That from this post, was there any place by Flagstaff House? If you want to say that you were referring to Jubilee House, say so.

Omane Boamah: Yes, I was referring to Jubilee House.

Afenyo-Markin: Very well.

Omane Boamah: Mr. Chair, but isn’t it interesting that the two-thirds majority in Parliament, okay, is something that if I discuss today, I must be a very good poster. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Chairman: Very good poster indeed.

Afenyo-Markin: Chairman, if you are encouraged by what the nominee would want to veer into, and I take him there, don’t again say that time, time, time. I have asked him a very simple question, and I’ve moved away. If now that is the style of the nominee, there’s no problem. I would want us to get in there. Yoo. Well, I don’t really mind the invitation. Let’s come to number two. Read for me the first sentence.

Omane Boamah: Lest we forget. The NPP sloganeers of Ghana Beyond Aid afflicted Ghanaians with unprecedented unemployment and choking national debt, leading to pensioners demonstrating.

Afenyo-Markin: You stand by that?

Omane Boamah: True, I stand by it.

Afenyo-Markin: Very well. That’s fine. Did you author criminal NPP collaborating with some criminally minded officials?

Omane Boamah: Which document are you

Afenyo-Markin: Still on two?

Omane Boamah: Unfortunately, I don’t have that here. That is not on the two I have. Let’s name one, two, alpha, two, beta, so that we can have different twos. Because I have two of the twos now.

Afenyo-Markin: The one that was just brought to you, let’s focus on that one. Do you identify that as your document, a document that you authored.

Omane Boamah: Yes.

Afenyo-Markin: Read for me the first paragraph or first sentence.

Omane Boamah: Criminal NPP collaborating with some criminally minded officials to register minors in Ashanti region. A minor with Ghana Card.

Afenyo-Markin: The first sentence.

Omane Boamah: That read, criminal NPP collaborating with some criminally minded officials to register minors in Ashanti region.

Afenyo-Markin: Do you stand by that?

Omane Boamah: That was a report I received, and at that time they even sent the photos and the NIA card of the minors. It was during the registration exercise. It was our team that were going around that brought a report. Mr. Chairman, there is no way I’ll put out information that is not coming from a credible source. At best, that credible source may get it wrong, but in this case, they sent the images of the Ghana card and images of the children to us. That was it.

Because I have always maintained that there is always so much that you could use against your opponent. Particularly the NPP administration, that just left office. So, there’s no need to dabble in rhetorics that could not be verified. I was the very person who pursued for seven months the chunk of ballot papers that were arrested on the 7th of December.

I have the evidence of how I authorised the operation the 6th of January around 10pm, and how I finally authorised the operation around midday of the 7th of December. And it proved to be true. So, I’m saying that I would never, never, never, concoct something. Never.

Chairman: Please if you have any further questions.

Afenyo-Markin: Did you verify the supposed information to ascertain its authenticity prior to authoring what you authored?

Omane Boamah: Thank you very much. At that time, we had all, with great effort, demanded even NIA to even publish district-by-district issuance of Ghana cards. NIA wouldn’t budge. Where was I to verify this from? If your officers on the ground have sent you the evidence that this is Ghana card, a minor, that is being registered. If I could have any other way of verifying, why not? I would have. But I had no doubt about it. And I’m saying that all the sources, including theft of biometric voter registration kits from the headquarters of the Electoral Commission, I got them from sources.

Chairman: Honourable nominee, the question has been answered. Let’s make progress. Honourable nominee, try as much as possible to avoid repeating the answers. Just go straight to provide an answer to the question.

Omane Boamah: Thank you.

Afenyo-Markin: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Doc, the criminal NPP, that statement, if somebody, NPP does not operate in name, NPP operates through individual party members and leaders. In your earlier answer, trying to justify what you wrote, you said, among other things, that your officers on the ground gave you some feedback and you had no reason to doubt them. Were they able to provide you with names of individuals who, according to them, were involved in this criminal act?

Omane Boamah: Yes, at the time, they did. It’s unfortunate, I mean, like we all do, I cannot trace back to get those details. But if my memory serves me right, I can even mention the particular constituency where that thing was taking place.

Chairman: Honourable nominee, there’s no need to mention the particular constituency, so let’s make progress.

Afenyo-Markin: So, you do not really have available to you the names of those individuals who were involved in this criminal act that you referred to in your post?

Omane Boamah: At this time, I don’t. At the time, I did. Because I’ve dealt with far more critical issues, data of corrupted voter’s register files and all those things. At the time, I did. At this time, no.

Afenyo-Markin: Can we go to three? What is the headline there? Can you read it?

Omane Boamah: Omane Boamah condemns NPP’s liberal land looters.

Afenyo-Markin: Did you write that NPP had looted state land? Did you write that?

Omane Boamah: Yes, I did.

Afenyo-Markin: Tell us the basis of your assertion that NPP had looted state lands.

Omane Boamah: The basis is that the lands are administered by a government. The lands are administered by a government. And from the narration of the people who were trying to take possession at 2 a.m., they had claimed it was theirs. Who else can give the land to them apart from the government of the day?

Afenyo-Markin: Doc, I’ve known you for some time, a very long time, and I know what is a political statement and what is a statement of fact. In the story referring to Ghana International School, the security, and the fact that somebody followed that tipper truck to pour some gravel and all, in all fairness, is there anything stating that the person had actually acquired the land from the state and that person is an NPP?

Omane Boamah: I think you are, no, but I think you are taking it as, when we say a land looter, it is just the one who is going to benefit from it, the beneficiary. No. No.

Afenyo-Markin: Educate us, I’m happy, I want us to delve into this and stay here for a little while, no problem.

Omane Boamah: In fact, I think, I think, I think when it comes to land looting, we, the politicians in office who sit and allow this unconscionable enterprise to happen, are more looters than even those who benefit from it.

Afenyo-Markin: Honourable nominee, are you familiar with Cantoments very well?

Omane Boamah: I’ve lived there for seven years, so I should be from 2010 all the way to 2016, yeah, so 2016, 2017, so I’m familiar with Cantoments.

Afenyo-Marking: Are you familiar with how land transactions between the state and private persons take place? Are you familiar with it?

Omane Boamah: I don’t know the extent that you are alluding to, so I will not be able to say yes.

Afenyo-Markin: Are you familiar with Ridge?

Omane Boamah: Yes, at least we all drive past Ridge, so yes.

Afenyo-Markin: You are aware that in the Ridge area, we have state lands there, you are aware?

Omane Boamah: Yes.

Afenyo-Markin: You are aware that in the Roman Ridge area, we have state lands there?

Omane Boamah: Yes.

Afenyo-Markin: You are aware that in the Labone Cantoments enclave, we have state lands?

Omane Boamah: Cantoments, yes. Labone, maybe Labone Secondary School, yes. I don’t know about any other places where you may have at Labone.

Afenyo-Markin: So, this looting, and you’ve emphasised something there, that looting of state lands by politicians in office, it’s unconscionable for politicians to… I mean complete that. I just want you to provide clarity

Omane Boamah: I’m not sure I’ll be able to evoke the exact words, and since I’m under oath, so maybe the table of face can get that, but you can summarise it to capture the input of what I meant.

Afenyo-Markin: On what basis did you relate GIS land? GIS itself acquiring the land from the state, by the way, you are aware of that? Because that area, that area where GIS is situated, and all the lands that GIS as an institution owns are state land that GIS has acquired. Do you know that?

Omane Boamah: I don’t know that as a fact.

Afenyo-Markin: So, if you don’t know that as a fact, on what basis would you conclude that somebody alleging, GIS alleging that portions of its land being taken by a Ghanaian or an individual amount to NPP looting land in Cantoments?

Omane Boamah: I think you are basing your discussion on what Ghanaweb I published. The source was not just Ghanaweb about this discussion. So, don’t restrict yourself to just what Ghana Web published. It was about allocation, that it had been allocated, and that is why the individuals had gone there at 2 a.m. to do what they were doing. Ghanaweb here is only publishing my post and adding what I would call the editorial aspect to the post. So, we need to separate where…

Afenyo-Markin: So, read aloud your post. Let’s deal with your post. Let’s forget about GhanaWeb. Let’s deal with your post. Read aloud your post.

Omane Boamah: Unfortunately, my post is not even here. It’s just the headline. The actual post is not here. The entire thing becomes a story, and even Ghanaweb sources it to a different media house. So, we need to distinguish…

Afenyo-Markin: Doc, I know you to be a very sincere person, and I respect you for that. You are under oath. You see, read the entire document. Read everything. Read everything.

Omane Boamah: The Director of Relations and IT for the Opposition National Democratic Congress, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has condemned what he described as the activities of land looters under the current new patriotic administration. His comments come after an attempted land grab at GIS in Cantoments, Accra, was foiled by the school’s security team and local police.

Mr. Boamah, in a Facebook post, dated September 5, 2024, praised the school’s management for standing firm against what he termed liberal land looters. The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Saturday, August 29, 2024, when a tipper truck loaded with sand arrived at the school property’s gate at around 2 a.m., attempting to dump its load on the land.

Frank Amponsah Mensah, Principal of GIS, recounted that the school’s security personnel acted swiftly and called in the Cantoments police for support. A plain-clothed individual driving a Toyota Camry with registration number ER29723 also arrived on – there is something there that is missing – insisting that the truck be allowed to enter the property.

However, the combined efforts of the school’s security team and police officers prevented the unauthorised entry and potential illegal takeover of the land. Expressing gratitude to the security team and police, Mr. Boamah condemned the brazen attempt to seize the property.

This is also obfuscated, but it’s repeated here. Expressing gratitude to the security team and police, Mr. Boamah condemned the brazen attempt to seize the school’s property. And then, they quote me, but they have put something there and quoted. It’s not like this (he shows a document). This one I can identify.

Afenyo-Markin: Doc, did the publication misquote any aspect of your post?

Omane Boamah: Honourable, this is as far back as September 2024. And under oath, I will not… Look, if I see this, I know that this is my Facebook

Chairman: Honourable nominee, take it easy. When you are reminded that you are under oath, the question that followed is, read your post. And your response was to the effect that this is not your post.

Omane Boamah: No, this is not like my Facebook post.

Chairman: So now, what I want to do is that, if the honourable ranking is having your post that he wants you to read, different from what they have written, based, somebody has written based on your post, then he can also read your post louder.

Omane Boamah: No, the thing is, if it had come, let’s say, if this…

Chairman: I understand that this is somebody’s story based on your post, but this is actually not your post.

Omane Boamah: I wouldn’t be able to tell if what is in quotation marks, all of it, is attributed to me.

Chairman: Yes, to you, but this is not your post. That is why I’m saying that, if he, by chance, have your post as a result of which this publication was made by another person, then he should be dealing with you regarding your post, but not what somebody has written based on your post. Because, in effect, you are not the author of that. Are you the author of that? What you’ve read, are you the author?

Omane Boamah: The entire document, no. It is a journalist writing.

Chairman: Thank you, thank you very much. Let’s make progress.

Afenyo-Markin: Honourable nominee, do you disagree with the content of the publication, which publication refers to your 5th September Facebook post? Do you disagree with the content?

Omane Boamah: I don’t have a disagreement with the content.

Afenyo-Markin: Then, I shall proceed to put you the next question, since you don’t disagree with it. So, this is the point I want to make. The issue between that so-called claimant to part of the GIS land, the issue between that claimant who was claiming part of GIS land, which came to your attention, that very matter of somebody claiming GIS land and all, how does that relate to NPP looting?

Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I have said here that such acquisitions or illegal acquisitions, the person must be a very bold investor to want to go and take GIS land without some authorisation. But, if for the purposes of today, you want to say that because it was a private person going to take GIS’ land, so I should not have linked it to the NPP, I can understand you. But we can always get to the bottom of this matter.

To know who that person is and whether the person was even acting on behalf of someone and know the processes that led to that bold invasion of GIS’ land at 2 a.m. So, I can understand what you are saying, that the person is a private person acting on his own without any authorisation from any government, without any documentation from any government, but the person just went and decided to take over part of GIS’ land. If that is the view that is being expressed, then I agree with you that I should not have added NPP to it.

Afenyo-Markin: Especially, Honourable Nominee, when the person moved in at 2 a.m. But, when you are dealing with a matter and your respected friend or brother sincerely proceeding in a path, you don’t litigate and I would say that your honest admission that it was inappropriate to have linked NPP to it, I would not pursue. Now, some of your guests are participating in this process, so let us spend a little time there. Chairman, Honourable Nominee, do you concede that the subject matter resulting in your post was inappropriate to the extent that you linked it to NPP?

Omane Boamah: Mr. Chairman, I have said that for the purposes of today’s discussion, today’s vetting, and I use if, if, if it is the case that the person was just a bold investor without any authorisation, decided to invade part of GIS’ land, then I should not have linked NPP to it. But this is a matter that I will pursue to know the root cause of this particular boldness.

Because, I know capital moves in directions where its peace and security will be assured. So, I would be very surprised that an investor would do such a thing, but it’s possible. So, why not? Let’s go by the scenario that you have set. If that is what it was, then I should not have linked NPP to it.

Afenyo-Markin: You would agree with me that at the time you put out the post, you did not verify the source of the person’s claim. You would agree with me?

Omane Boamah: Honourable Chair, Honourable Minority Leader is in opposition. And, even when you are in government, it’s very difficult to verify. Even when your party is in government, it’s very difficult to verify some of these things. So, it’s a good position that you are taking. However, considering the circumstances at the time, where, where, where was I supposed to call the Honourable Lands Minister then?

Or, the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission? Or, the Land Title Registry? Who was I to call to have a fair response? That’s why I’m saying, considering the scenario that you have set, perfect. If that is it, then I shouldn’t have linked NPP to it. But trust me, you know me, when I say I’ll pursue something, I will pursue it.

Afenyo-Markin: Doc, simple. At the time you put out your post, you did not have evidence at your hand that it was an NPP-generated action and same amounted to looting at the time you put out your post.

Omane Boamah: The circumstantial evidence was strong. However, if you want hard evidence, no.

Afenyo-Markin: Chairman, honourable nominee says that to verify is normally difficult. May I know from you whether you are aware of the law we passed, the RTI law, you are aware, the right to information law that we passed as a public officer?

Omane Boamah: I’m aware.

Afenyo-Markin: Now, did you explore relying on your rights under RTI to pursue this matter prior to putting out that post at the time?

Chairman: Honourable leader, the nominee is not a lawyer, so you should find out from the nominee whether having realised that law, he knows any right available for him under the law first. Then you can proceed to ask whether he has explored that right.

Afenyo-Markin: Learned senior, I take a cue from you. We are all learning here. That’s fair enough. Okay, so back to your question so that we can make progress. You are aware of the existence of the right to information act?

Omane Boamah: I’m aware.

Afenyo-Markin: You are also aware that under the law, you as an ordinary citizen can invoke your right to request for any information from any public institution. You are aware?

Omane Boamah: Mr. Chair, I have not read the law, but it’s an information that has come to my attention. However, just as the information that came to my attention through mass media is being contested today, I’m in a dilemma whether to push my understanding that that is the case that I can apply or I cannot, but I strongly believe it’s something that I can apply, but it is not that I have read the law. It is that it is understanding of the law that I have gleaned from discussions on the law, but the right to information has had its own issues. If you talk to anti-corruption activists…

Afenyo-Markin: Honourable nominee, chairman gave you a cue. Chairman gave you a cue. Specifics, specifics. Please, help matters. Your guests are becoming impatient with me, but you are the cause. Now, this 2am intruder whose action has resulted in this huge post, did you… The 2am, the claimant to the, the one who sent a truck, a tipper truck to the GIS land, that’s the reference point. I’m coming back to a question there. You did a post based on an individual sending a tipper truck with gravels to be poured on GIS, a portion of GIS land, which through the vigilance of the security, the person was unsuccessful. Question. This very person, did you get to know his name prior to the posting?

Omane Boamah: Mr. Chair, no. However, remember that I have said, looting of state lands is not just the responsibility of the beneficiaries. It’s a process, and so we need to conceptualise looting of state lands within this framework. Otherwise, we will only go after those who loot the lands and leave those who facilitate the looting.

Afenyo-Markin: So, let’s deal with the looting. When you say looting and those who facilitate, what do you mean by looting? When you use that word looting, what exactly do you mean? Let’s understand it in its ordinary context. What do you mean by looting?

Omane Boamah: What I mean by looting of state lands is several. One, that practise which today has left many civil servants trekking longer distances to ministries to work because politicians, under the guise of all kinds of policies, infilling this, that, that, that, sell state lands to individuals, some in public office, some retired, some business people, and sometimes even at very ridiculously low amounts. It is one of the variants.

Afenyo-Markin: So, fortunately, you are going into the Ministry of Defence. Now, let’s go to Chain Homes.

Omane Boamah: What is Chain Homes?

Afenyo-Markin: No, I’ll explain. Don’t worry. Just take it easy. Doc, I’ll get there. Chain Homes, that estate at Tsedo, which land was originally owned by the military, that land, that whole area. I’m giving you a background. You said you didn’t know. I’m giving you a background.

Omane Boamah: I want to ask a question.

Afenyo-Markin: No, you can’t ask. I’m laying a foundation. I said something, and you wanted clarity. So, let me help. I’m saying that that Tsedo area where Chain Homes, that estate, is currently situated, just by it you see the military cemetery. I’m saying that that whole enclave belonged to the military high command of this country. I’m laying a foundation, and as a result of this loot you are referring to, a private citizen with a registered entity acquired it from the state.

At the time they were getting on the land, the military stopped them several times. Severally, they were stopped. Then, eventually, they had access to the land, and they built that estate. Would you, as Minister of Defence, be interested in how this land was acquired from the military? Because the whole enclave was estate land. Would you be interested in finding out how the land was acquired by this entity to develop it into this first-class estate facility?

Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I’ll be interested in knowing every military land that has gotten into private hands, but what I want to know is, is it the case that that Chain Homes enclave was owned by the military? I believe, with your blessing, when I get there, I will be able to know whether it was owned, or if a leader can also assist subsequently with what the components of the ownership is. That would be great.

Chairman: Thank you very much for your answer. Let’s proceed.

Afenyo-Markin: Chairman, I would want to go to number five.

Dafeamekpor: Chairman, let me seek your guide in this matter. Chairman, with all due respect, leaders may have an unlimited opportunity to ask questions, but I’m so concerned as the majority chief quip, who is the avant-garde of government business, the ranking member cannot take three hours to ask his questions. So, if he says that he will continue tomorrow, we have to go back and come back tomorrow, there must be a limit to what he’s doing. In any case, we have four other nominees who are waiting.

So, as the government chief whip, I am so concerned, but the procedure is adopting, and the government business is affected. You are supposed to lay a report. Because of this, you’re unable to move, and the survey report is in abeyance, and we are allowing the ranking member to go on and on, the people’s address and all that.

So, Chairman, can we have a guide that when the ranking member has the opportunity to ask his questions, can he have 30 minutes, can he have one hour, can he have two hours, so that when that duration is exhausted, we can make progress? Because where I am sitting, the calls I’m getting from my government and the party, I’m under pressure. I’m under pressure. Yes, government business can make progress. Who is the opposition leader that says I will wait for three days? No.

Chairman: Honourable members, with all due respect, I belong to a school of thought that believes in the fact that when a procedure is set down for a right to be exercised, you follow that procedure in exercising the rights. By practise, convention, and agreement at this committee’s meeting, it was resolved that a ranking member of the committee would have unlimited number of questions to ask.

I do not believe that any member of the committee available at which that decision was taken should come to the floor and take a decision contrary to what we have agreed upon, contrary to the practise and conventions. So, please, let us not create the impression that this is the first time that a ranking member and a minority leader will be having unlimited number of questions to ask. So, please, the public is of the view that I have the power to stop ranking member when he’s asking a question.

I do not want that view to be fortified by any member of the committee. We’ve all agreed that we are going by the old convention and practise that ranking member of the committee would have unlimited number of questions to ask. So, we are leaving it to the discretion of the ranking member whether he will be reasonable about asking the question or he wants to ask the question till tomorrow. That is the instruction that we have agreed upon and that is what exactly I am doing. So, public, general public, please take note.

Afenyo-Markin: Thank you, chairman. Honourable nominee, may I inform you that you can take a break to use the washroom, take water, get a snack and would accommodate you. It’s your right. We, Honourable Ken Ofori-Atta, had two days of waiting and in between he was allowed coffee break. He was able to take some break and came back and all that. So, that was it. Honourable nominee, please kindly have a look at number five. Number five, please. Kindly read aloud number five, what you posted there.

Omane Boamah: NPP government, you cannot give Ghana’s lithium away for peanuts and turn around to tax electricity.

Afenyo-Markin: Doc, please, are you aware that at this, at the time that you made this post, the lithium agreement was before parliament for scrutiny?

Omane Boamah: It’s possible. It’s possible. I won’t contest it.

Afenyo-Markin: And I am at the risk of being immodest, suggesting to you that in all fairness to the government, this was most inappropriate to say that the lithium, Ghana’s lithium, was being given away for a peanut.

Omane Boamah: We differ in opinion. For instance, if I’m to go into what we can use lithium for, okay, what we can use lithium for, we will not treat lithium like other minerals, even if this is a bit enhanced. So, you may have to understand where some of these thoughts are coming from. So, I’m not disagreeing with you, but also agree with my position and respect it, because I’m looking at the alternate use of lithium.

Afenyo-Markin: Honourable nominee, greatest respect to you. At the time you made this post, had you seen the draft lithium agreement? Had you seen them?

Omane Boamah: Honourable, such questions with the greatest of respect are unfair to citizens. It takes away the role of the fourth estate of the realm. Unless we are to say that citizens should not take anything.

Afenyo-Markin: Honourable, I only ask you whether, respectfully.

Omane Boamah: I have not seen it. And even to date, I have not seen it.

Afenyo-Markin: So, you confirm that at the time you made this post, that government was selling lithium at a peanut. You have not seen the agreement? You confirm?

Omane Boamah: I have not seen the agreement, but I had seen reports coming from reputable media houses.

Afenyo-Markin: No, no, I’m talking about the agreement. You had not seen the agreement?

Omane Boamah: I have answered that, and I have also, I suggested that I have read reports coming from reputable media houses.

Afenyo-Markin: Which media houses did you read their reports? Which media houses?

Omane Boamah: It includes the multimedia group.

Afenyo-Markin: The multimedia. Did you read it on their website?

Omane Boamah: Mr. Chair, I’m unable to recall exactly what happened like two years ago. This was like about a year ago. Exactly where.

Chairman: Thank you very much. You’ve answered the question. Please, let’s make progress

Omane Boamah: (a document given to nominee) Post (on the GIS land issue) like this, which I can see my profile on and everything, you understand? As compared to something printed on this, you understand? And to expect me after several months to say that page one, but I said (audio cut)

Afenyo-Markin: I did not get to where you’ve just gotten to. That is why I brought back the exact post you made. If that is the position you’ve taken, Chairman, if that is the position, then I will not pursue that document. And I’m being very fair with you. I’m being very fair. If that’s the concession you’ve made, then we don’t need to pursue that. So, let’s move on. Let’s have some soft issues. Let’s move on.

Chairman: Honourable nominee

Afenyo-Markin: Doc, if you do politics with me, if you want to do politics with me, then don’t be irritated when we start the politics. I am here. I’m trying to manage and you want to do partisan politics with me

Chairman: Honourable nominee. When the question asks, you answered that it’s for some time. It’s not a direct post where you will be able to see the document and admit that this is my post. So therefore, you have a difficulty accepting whether this is your post or not. And the questioner is saying that if that is your answer, he wants to abandon any further question on that and proceed on another angle. So, let’s take it in good faith and allow him to proceed on another angle, but not what you are not able to identify whether it is your post or not your post.

Afenyo-Markin: And let me remind you on a lighter note that the fact that I’m grilling you does not mean that when you get there and you are supposed to give protocol allocation, you deny me. I’m telling you. I’m telling you. (laughjter in the auditorium). You cannot. Because yes, there is. And committee members benefited. Yes. Yes. There is something like that. When I was a defence committee member, your ranking, your members benefited.

I am saying it on authority. They did. They even had more than with the NPP members. They did. I’m not. That’s a fact. Kennedy Agyapong was a chair of the defence and interior committee. They benefited. So, I’m telling you that when you are giving, don’t think that because I grilled you, you will not.

Chairman: Honourable honourable ranking member, honourable ranking member. I have also been in this house for some time. I was a member of parliament and at the point became the ranking member for constitutional, legal, and parliamentary affairs committee, a very important committee of parliament.

But you plead like you are becoming a defence minister. It is time for recruitment into the military. You will see members of parliament coming to your office to come and plead and intervene on behalf of their constituents. But you won’t tell them that, Oh, I have 10 members. Go and bring them automatically to come and join the military. That is not it. So let me use the opportunity to clear the doubts.

Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Recruitments and enlistments will follow the rules of engagements strictly you have my assurance.

Afenyo-Markin: Honourable nominee, what is your party’s or your government defence policy? What is your government defence policy?

Omane Boamah: To ensure a safe, peaceful, and prosperous nation that is respected among the comity of nations.

Afenyo-Markin: Do you have that enactment as contained in your manifesto, which is what you just said?

Omane Boamah: You would have to put a lot together because you should know that the manifesto are promises. For government policy, the party has transitioned into government. You are vetting the minister designates. And actually, the defence policy document is as old as 2012, thereabouts.

Afenyo-Markin: Mr. Chair, do you have a copy of your manifesto with you?

Omane Boamah: I do.

Afenyo-Markin: You have it in softcopy?

Omane Boamah: Yes, softcopy.

Afenyo-Markin: Please open the aspects that deals with the defence policy of your government. We need to have some exercise there. I have some questions for you on your defence policy as a government. You made a lot of promises. Let’s deal with some questions on your defence policy.

Omane Boamah: Yes. Mr. Chair, I’m there.

Afenyo-Markin: Proceed to read it aloud and in extenso.

Omane Boamah: Mr. Chairman, it’s quite lengthy.

Afenyo-Markin: So, if you are to have a preamble to it?

Omane Boamah: Public safety and security. Public safety and security have declined significantly since…

Afenyo-Markin: No, no. Is that your defence policy?

Omane Boamah: They go… You see, you need to take… Honourable. You need to

Afenyo-Markin: Preamble to your defence policy.

Omane Boamah: So, you want the Ghana Armed Forces.

Afenyo-Markin: Page what? I have your defence… I have it here with me.

Omane Boamah: No. Wait. If you want Ghana Armed Forces, it’s 6.4.

Afenyo-Markin: Momento. Momento. Momento. Yes. 6.4. What paragraph are you referring to? Exactly.

Omane Boamah: So that’s why I’m trying to… Honourable. I’m trying to guide that if you want Ghana Armed Forces, go to 6.4.7.  If you want public safety…

Afenyo-Markin: No, but public safety has nothing to do with your defence policy. My respected colleague, Honourable Boamah would want to provide a guide.

Omane Boamah: That is why the defence and strategy… They are linked. This is the full version. I have the full version, Chairman.

Chairman: Let me hear Honourable Boamah.

Patrick Boamah: I think the leader wants to end, but wants you to look at the preamble to the entire security architecture. That is 6.4. Which talked about the retooling professionalism. That’s a short paragraph. I’m sure from there you go to the police, fire service, armed forces. We’ve read your manifesto. We understand it. We even know the paragraphs. That’s why we directed you to 6.4. So that’s all. That’s all he wants to know.

Chairman: Thank you very much. So Honourable nominee, you are accordingly guided. You now know what you should read.

Omane Boamah: Yes. So, 6.4. Public safety and security. Public safety and security declined significantly since 2017. We have seen an explosion of violent crime, partisan political capture of security services, and falling professional standards. The next NDC government will critically review the national security architecture and comprehensively implement reforms to ensure professionalism.

The reforms will primarily focus on equipping all security agencies to effectively execute their mandate towards ensuring their well-being, personal safety and security in Ghana. The following policies will be implemented. Then it goes… Afenyo-Markin: Hold on a second, let’s stop there. Now, do you, would you, would you be surprised from what you just said, and I will quote, public safety and security have declined significantly since 2017.

We have seen an explosion of violent crime, partisan political capture of security services and falling professional standards. I’ll pick it one after the other. One, would you be surprised with statistics from the Ghana Police Service to the effect that public safety and security have rather improved? Would you be surprised to receive statistics, data from the Ghana Police Service that since 2017 up until now we have seen an improved public safety and security? Would you be surprised to see that data and statistics? You’d be surprised?

Omane Boamah: Yes.

Afenyo-Markin: Very well. Next, would you again be surprised to receive data and statistics from the police that we have seen a rather, a reduction in violent crime since 2017? Would you be surprised?

Omane Boamah: Yes.

Afenyo-Markin: All right. Now, Doc, I suggest to you that what you just read has nothing to do with the defence policy of your government. I want to suggest that to you.

Afenyo-Markin: Honourable, you see, this is why you should have listened to me. Because to have a defence policy, it has to be a progeny of the national security architecture. And that was even what was lacking in the 2012 or so defence policy. At the time that there was no national security strategy. So that is why I was asking, should I go and read Ghana Armed Forces? Is that what you are asking for?

Or you want the entirety? So, I’m saying that I was trying to make that point that defence policy emanates from a bigger national security strategy architecture. So, you cannot just zoom in to the Ghana Armed Forces. That is why I took it from there. And then when you said no, I then went down to the Ghana Armed Forces. Then I was asking you, should I reap Ghana Armed Forces?

The Honourable Boamah said no. I should go back to the public safety and security. So, if you are, you guide me appropriately and provide exactly what you want. I have the document here. I brought it because of questions such as this. So that we can refer. I will gladly read them. Whichever one that you want.

Afenyo-Markin: Honourable nominee, you stated in your CV that you were a Catholic, correct? A practising one for that matter.

Omane Boamah: Yes, correct.

Afenyo-Markin: To what extent would you say a Roman Catholic? Which parish, please? Omane Boamah: Christ the King.

Afenyo-Markin: Very well. To what extent has the Catholic Church prepared you in moral values to the extent that you are able to embrace diversity, especially as you assume this office as defence minister of your country?

Omane Boamah: Thank you very much. I owe my ability to even be in national politics partly to what I went through in the Catholic Church. We spoke about the Cadet Command 403 in Koforidua, which I was president of. You come across several people, both high privilege and underprivileged youth. You deal with all of them coming from different backgrounds. As a former mass servant, you come across many people.

Again, we’ve interacted with several priests, both foreign and Ghanaian priests, who really exposed us to the real world and answered our questions, some of them which bordered on even the Trinity and all. So, in terms of diversity, the Catholic Church is a very diverse church. People from all walks of life, several backgrounds, and I have interacted with them and I still continue to interact with them.

Afenyo-Markin: So how does this background prepare you to embrace the diversity you are going to face at the defence ministry?

Omane Boamah: I go there not just as somebody that the Catholic Church has prepared. I go there as someone who has been baked in many ways through the different experiences, my work with the military, medical practise, other political engagements, and everything. So, it is holistic.

The values that we’ve been taught, the Christian value of tolerance is also something that leads me, and I believe that even people who deliberately would decide to take me on the rough road, they believe that he’s very forgiving. So, he’s likely to forgive them. That is why they continue to do it. So, I’m going to the ministry as a very tolerant person, somebody who believes in the doctrine of love your neighbour as yourself.

Afenyo-Markin: Of course, your faith is well-founded. Let me conclude by saying that this morning there was a little issue about your appearance. We had received some information to defend that you were to be here at 9. Apparently, the letter to you stated 11, and I think my respected colleague at the bar, Madam Joyce Bawa Mogtari, was quick to alert us, but this was after I had passed some comment.

Let me unreservedly say sorry to you to the extent that some listeners and viewers had construed that to mean that you were late in coming to us. I mean, I think it’s only fair that I, in your presence, reiterate that point. So, it was no fault of yours. That said, I have nothing useful to add to all the questions I’ve asked you. I wish you well. You would hear from us as a committee. Thank you very much.

Chairman: Honourable members, thank you very much. Let me also add that apologies for any comments coming from any member of the committee regarding you coming before us late. In the morning, I stated clearly to all the members of the committee that in life, patience is the key. So sometimes we need to be patient.

There is an adage in my language that it is out of patience that you’ll be able to operate an ant so as to be able to see the intestine. So, patience is a cardinal point in life so that we hasten slowly. Honourable members, at long last, we’ve come to the end of the vetting of the Minister-designate for Defence. Honourable nominee, you surely hear from the committee and you are here by discharge.

Omane Boamah: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

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