Security expert Dr. Ishmael Norman has criticized Ghana’s lack of a standardized operating manual for military deployments during domestic civil disturbances.
Speaking on KeyPoints on August 2, 2025, Norman revealed his research uncovered no documented guidelines for army engagement in local crises—unlike structured protocols for international peacekeeping missions.
He highlighted that soldiers responding to emergencies like the Volta Region floods or ongoing Bawku operations often act without clear procedures, simulation training, or skills in community de-escalation. “The average soldier’s instinct when threatened is to shoot. They’re trained to collapse escalation, not manage it,” Norman stated, contrasting this with police who receive some conflict-resolution training.
The analyst specifically cautioned against current military deployments in Bawku, warning that inadequate preparation risks replicating violent outcomes like the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election. “We set soldiers up to fail. Without peace enforcement training in volatile settings, avoidable tragedies will recur,” he emphasized, noting soldiers cannot refuse deployment orders regardless of preparedness.
