Paul Adom-Otchere Rebukes Sam George Over His 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 recent confrontation with a military officer, warning that public officials must be careful about how they address members of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Adom-Otchere expressed disappointment in the minister’s conduct following an incident involving soldiers at a sand-winning site in Afienya, within the Ningo-Prampram Constituency.

The controversy started after Sam George accused some military personnel of mistreating residents, unlawfully seizing tipper trucks and disrespecting a police commander who attempted to intervene during an operation.

The minister specifically mentioned a military officer identified as Lieutenant Albert Goh, accusing him of leading the operation and demanding that the Chief of Defence Staff take disciplinary action against him.

Sam George also described the officer’s alleged conduct as similar to armed robbery and warned that soldiers who returned to the constituency to brutalise residents would face resistance.

However, his comments attracted criticism from several individuals, including military personnel and other public figures.

Reacting to the development, Paul Adom-Otchere questioned why the minister chose to publicly confront the military officer instead of first establishing the circumstances surrounding the operation.

The broadcaster argued that Sam George should have exercised restraint before making strong statements against an individual officer and the military institution.

He stressed that members of the Ghana Armed Forces deserve respect because of the sacrifices they make to protect the country and its citizens.

Adom-Otchere also highlighted the dangers military personnel face when undertaking national assignments and international peacekeeping operations.

He mentioned countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Lebanon, where Ghanaian soldiers have served and some have lost their lives while carrying out their duties.

According to him, the sacrifices made by these soldiers should not be overlooked, particularly because their families are also affected when they lose their lives in the line of duty.

He questioned how an elected Member of Parliament could publicly speak about soldiers in a manner he considered disrespectful.

Adom-Otchere insisted that disagreements involving individual military officers should not automatically become attacks on the entire Ghana Armed Forces.

He further called on the High Command of the Ghana Armed Forces to find an appropriate way of addressing the matter, suggesting that the military leadership should engage political officeholders privately to prevent similar controversies.

Meanwhile, Sam George has defended his earlier comments, explaining that his intention was not to attack the Ghana Armed Forces as an institution but to demand accountability over the alleged misconduct of some personnel.

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

He subsequently disclosed that the military leadership had agreed to investigate the operation and establish what happened.

The minister maintained that he had a responsibility to protect the interests of his constituents and ensure that their complaints were properly addressed.

The controversy has since generated considerable public discussion about the relationship between elected officials and the military, as well as the appropriate way to address allegations of misconduct involving security personnel.

For now, attention remains on the investigation promised by the military leadership and whether the findings will provide clarity on the allegations surrounding the Afienya operation.

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