Sam George Meets Military High Command Over Ningo-Prampram Operation, Secures Probe Commitment

The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, has met with the Minister for Defence and the Military High Command to defuse tensions arising from a joint military-police operation in his constituency that left several residents assaulted and three others with gunshot wounds.

The meeting, held on Wednesday morning, was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Commanders . At its centre were concerns raised by the High Command about portions of a video in which the MP addressed his constituents following the incident last Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by the MP after the engagement, the discussions were "frank and cordial." He assured the High Command that his remarks were never intended as an attack on the Ghana Armed Forces, an institution he holds in the highest regard, "as I stated in that same address" .

The Video and the Fallout

The controversy stems from a public address in which Sam George confronted a military officer, identified as Lieutenant Albert Goh, accusing him and his men of storming the constituency heavily armed, seizing trucks belonging to residents without lawful authority, and mistreating community members . The MP described the officer's alleged conduct as "akin to armed robbery" and called on the Chief of Defence Staff to dismiss him from the Ghana Armed Forces .

He further alleged that the soldiers had cocked their weapons at a police commander, a Chief Superintendent, who had attempted to intervene during the operation . The operation, according to reports, was connected to enforcement activity at a sand-winning site in Afienya, where tipper truck drivers claimed their vehicles were impounded and operators assaulted .

The High Command's concerns about the video's tone and content prompted the Wednesday meeting, which Sam George described as an opportunity to clarify his position. He expressed understanding at how his remarks had been received by the larger Army fraternity and agreed to work closer with the Minister for Defence in future situations .

A Duty to Constituents

Despite the conciliatory tone, the MP was unequivocal about his core concern. "My concern was, and remains, the conduct of the personnel involved in the incident and the harm my constituents suffered," he stated .

"As Member of Parliament, I have a duty to speak up for the people who elected me, and I will always do so," he added .

The meeting yielded a significant outcome: the Chief of Defence Staff committed to opening an investigation into the matter. Sam George said he was encouraged by the commitment and expressed confidence that the probe would be thorough and its outcome made public .

He thanked his colleague, the Minister for Defence, for his swift intervention and pledged to work with him and the Military High Command "to ensure that the rights of the people of Ningo-Prampram are protected, and that the integrity and proud image of our Ghana Armed Forces are upheld" .

Background: Tensions Over Sand-Winning Enforcement

The incident has cast a spotlight on the conduct of security personnel deployed to enforce restrictions on sand-winning activities in the Greater Accra Region. The National Sand and Stone Tipper Truck Drivers Association alleged that its members—who claimed to hold valid operating licences and clearance from the Ningo-Prampram District Assembly—were subjected to excessive military action, including shootings, physical assault, and the seizure of mobile phones and trucks .

Security analyst Adib Sani, commenting on the reports, described the alleged chambering of weapons at a police commander as "very dangerous" and "unacceptable," calling for an investigation into the personnel involved. He cautioned, however, against painting the entire military with a single brush, noting that "you are bound to have some few bad nuts" .

For now, the MP has urged his constituents to remain calm, cooperate fully with the investigation, and allow the process to run its course . Whether the probe delivers accountability—and whether it repairs the frayed relationship between the military and the community it is sworn to protect—remains to be seen.