Ghana Must Prioritise Integrity in Defence Sector – Patrick Kwasi Brobbey
Security governance expert introduces global integrity index to help journalists strengthen accountability in Ghana’s defence sector.
- GDI highlights defence corruption risks and integrity gaps
- Journalists urged to promote security sector accountability
- Global benchmark helps improve defence governance standards
A security governance expert has urged journalists and civil society organisations to pay closer attention to corruption risks within Ghana’s defence institutions and use global benchmarks to demand accountability.
Speaking at the Media Training on Defence Integrity in Kumasi, Patrick Kwasi Brobbey introduced participants to the Government Defence Integrity Index (GDI) and explained its importance to national security.
What is the GDI?
According to Mr. Brobbey, the Government Defence Integrity Index is a global tool developed by Transparency International Defence & Security to assess integrity and corruption risks within defence institutions.
He highlighted three key aspects of the index:
1. It measures integrity and corruption risks
“The Index measures the level of integrity and corruption risks in national defence establishments,” Mr. Brobbey said.
He noted that the assessment covers areas such as procurement, personnel, operations, finance and policy.
2. It assesses institutional controls
The GDI “assesses the existence, enforcement and effectiveness of institutional controls” within defence ministries and armed forces.
Mr. Brobbey explained that this involves examining whether laws, oversight mechanisms and whistleblower systems work effectively in practice, rather than existing only on paper.
3. It has a global scope
“The 2025 iteration of the GDI comprises 60 countries,” he revealed.
He said this enables Ghana to compare its defence governance standards with other countries and identify areas that require improvement.
Why Journalists Should Care
Mr. Brobbey told journalists in Kumasi that reporting on defence integrity is not about revealing sensitive military operations, but ensuring that public funds allocated to the security sector are properly managed.
“When we talk about integrity in defence, we are talking about protecting both our soldiers and our taxpayers,” he stated.
He encouraged the media to use tools such as the GDI to ask critical questions about defence budgets, procurement processes and oversight systems.
The Media Training on Defence Integrity was organised to build the capacity of journalists in the Ashanti Region to report responsibly on defence and security issues.
