Paul Adom-Otchere Fires Back at Sam George Over Comments About Ghanaian Soldiers

According to GhanaWeb on Sunday November 8 2026, broadcast journalist Paul Adom-Otchere has criticised Communications Minister and Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament Samuel Nartey George over his comments concerning some military personnel involved in an operation at Afienya.

Adom-Otchere expressed disappointment in the manner in which the minister confronted a military officer following allegations of misconduct during an operation at a sand-winning site.

The controversy began after Sam George accused some soldiers of mistreating residents, unlawfully seizing tipper trucks and threatening a police commander who attempted to intervene during the operation.

The minister specifically raised concerns about the conduct of a military officer identified as Lieutenant Albert Bo and called on the military authorities to investigate his actions.

Sam George also warned that soldiers who returned to the constituency to intimidate residents would face resistance, insisting that he had a responsibility to protect the people he represented.

However, his approach has attracted criticism, with Paul Adom-Otchere becoming one of the latest public figures to express concerns about the matter.

Speaking about the incident, Adom-Otchere questioned why the minister chose to publicly address the military officer in such a manner.

He argued that disagreements involving individual soldiers should be handled carefully, rather than allowing them to develop into public confrontations that could affect the reputation of the entire Ghana Armed Forces.

The broadcaster also reminded Ghanaians about the sacrifices military personnel make in protecting the country and serving in international peacekeeping missions.

He mentioned countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Lebanon, where Ghanaian soldiers have participated in military assignments, with some losing their lives while carrying out their duties.

According to him, the sacrifices made by these personnel should be recognised because their work goes beyond the ordinary responsibilities associated with military service.

Adom-Otchere questioned how a Member of Parliament could publicly speak about soldiers in a manner he considered disrespectful, particularly when the circumstances surrounding an incident had not been fully established.

He maintained that political officeholders should exercise restraint when discussing sensitive matters involving the military.

The journalist also called on the High Command of the Ghana Armed Forces to find an appropriate way to address the disagreement.

He suggested that the military leadership should engage the relevant political authorities privately to resolve the matter and prevent further public exchanges.

Adom-Otchere further argued that criticism of an individual officer should not automatically become an attack on the entire military institution.

Meanwhile, Sam George has maintained that his concerns were based on complaints from residents who allegedly experienced misconduct during the operation.

The minister has insisted that he has a responsibility to defend his constituents and ensure that allegations involving security personnel are properly investigated.

Following the controversy, Sam George met with the Defence Minister, the Chief of Defence Staff and the three service commanders to discuss the incident.

The military leadership also indicated its readiness to investigate the circumstances surrounding the operation.

The disagreement has since generated public discussion about the relationship between politicians and the security services, particularly the need to balance respect for military institutions with accountability when allegations of misconduct arise.

For now, attention remains on the military investigation and the steps that will be taken to establish what actually happened at Afienya.

Adom-Otchere’s central message is that soldiers deserve respect for their service, while concerns about individual officers should be addressed through appropriate channels.

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