Member of Parliament for Assin South and Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has strongly criticized President John Dramani Mahama’s recent overhaul of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) leadership, calling the move “backward, costly, and far-fetched.”
In a post on X, the MP condemned Mahama’s decision to dismiss the Chief of Defence Staff, all Service Chiefs, and 12 senior military officers of the rank of Major-General and above.
According to him, many of these top-ranking officers still had up to six years before reaching retirement age, meaning their premature dismissal would cost the state millions in gratuities.
“President Mahama has today dismissed Chief of Defence Staff and all Service Chiefs in Ghana Armed Forces and all 12 most senior military officers of the rank of Major-General equivalent and above.
Most of these Generals by rank and age have six more years to serve in the military before their retirement,” he stated.
Ntim Fordjour further noted that the decision disrupts Ghana’s military command structure, as it replaces higher-ranking generals with Brigadier Generals (1-star Generals). He lamented that just when the country had expanded its military capacity—upgrading key corps like Armour, Artillery, Signals, and 48 Engineers to Brigade status—Mahama’s actions have effectively reversed the progress.
“This reset is indeed backward, costly, and far-fetched,” he added, expressing concern over the impact on national security and military efficiency.
