Mahama’s replacement of senior Generals hurts military morale – Ntim Fordjour

The decision by President John Mahama to restructure the leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has drawn criticism from the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour.

In a social media post, Fordjour expressed concern about the dismissal of the Chief of Defence Staff, all Service Chiefs, and 12 senior military officers, including Major-Generals and above.

He argued that many of these officers had several years left before retirement, and their premature removal would cost the public purse millions in gratuities.

On March 17, 2025, President Mahama announced the new appointments as part of a move to strengthen the country’s defense system.

The changes, effective March 24, 2025, include Brigadier General William Agyapong as Acting Chief of the Defence Staff, Brigadier General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu as Acting Chief of Army Staff, and several other key appointments in the military’s leadership.

Fordjour, however, criticized the move, suggesting that replacing experienced senior officers with lower-ranked Brigadier Generals weakens the military’s command structure.

He also pointed out that Ghana’s recent military expansions justified having a 4-star General at the top, but the new appointments reversed these advancements.

The MP warned that the restructuring could harm military morale and operational efficiency, calling it “backward, costly, and far-fetched.” He emphasized that stability and experience should be prioritized in the country’s defense strategy.