“Let us know the environment we operate in” — Brig. Gen. Eric Aggrey-Quarshie (Rtd)

Retired Brigadier General Eric Aggrey-Quarshie, former Director-General of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, has urged journalists covering the defence sector to exercise heightened responsibility in their reportage, warning that seemingly harmless disclosures could have far-reaching national and regional security implications.

He delivered the remarks on Wednesday while addressing members of the Defence Ministry Press Corps at a one-day capacity-building workshop held at the Command Officers’ Mess, Burma Camp, in Accra.

Brig. Gen. Aggrey-Quarshie (Rtd) explained that espionage is not limited to dramatic covert operations but often involves the systematic collection of publicly available information.

According to him, foreign intelligence operatives routinely monitor media publications, press briefings, and digital platforms to gather insights into the capabilities, vulnerabilities, and intentions of states and institutions.

“Let us know the environment we operate in,” he emphasized, noting that embassies and foreign missions typically have intelligence officers whose responsibility includes analyzing open-source information.

He cautioned that when journalists publish extensive personal histories, professional training records, operational details, and institutional processes—particularly out of dissatisfaction over appointments or internal decisions—they may inadvertently provide material that can be used to profile individuals and security structures.

The Retired Officer explained that detailed biographical features, family backgrounds, career trajectories, and associations, when aggregated over time, can enable foreign actors to build comprehensive profiles of public officials and security personnel.

“What you may consider a tribute or background story today could become a profiling document tomorrow,” he noted, adding that such information can later be used strategically in diplomatic, security, or intelligence engagements.

He stressed that while investigative journalism and accountability remain pillars of democracy, they must be pursued with careful consideration of national interest and operational sensitivity.

Brig. Gen. Aggrey-Quarshie (Rtd) further warned against the publication of unverified leaks and misinformation.

He observed that intelligence agencies globally invest substantial resources to acquire sensitive information, yet in some instances, media publications provide similar insights freely—sometimes even fully analyzed.

He urged journalists to verify documents thoroughly, assess potential security implications, and avoid being used—knowingly or unknowingly—as conduits for strategic manipulation.

Beyond Ghana, he pointed out that certain security operations and defence collaborations are conducted within the framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

As such, careless reporting could have implications not only for Ghana but for the broader sub-region.

“Disagreement with an individual or a government decision must not translate into exposing sensitive matters that affect all of us,” he cautioned.

The Former Director-General of Public Relations underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between the media and defence institutions.

He called for professionalism, ethical judgment, and an understanding of the strategic environment within which defence reporting occurs.

The workshop formed part of efforts to deepen collaboration between the Defence Ministry and the Press Corps, equipping journalists with greater insight into security dynamics while reinforcing the shared responsibility of safeguarding national and regional interests.

He concluded by reiterating that responsible journalism enhances democracy and national resilience, but reckless disclosure can undermine collective security.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith