Rev. John Ntim Fordjour Criticizes President Mahama’s Removal of Top Military Chiefs as “Egoistic and Premature”

The Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has strongly criticized President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to remove the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and all Service Chiefs in the Ghana Armed Forces, calling it an “egoistic and premature” move.

The President, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, announced a major shake-up in the military leadership, appointing the following officers as Acting Service Chiefs, pending consultation with the Council of State:
• Acting Chief of Defence Staff – Brig. Gen. William Agyapong
• Acting Chief of Army Staff – Brig. Gen. Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu
• Acting Chief of Naval Staff – Cdre. Godwin Livinus Bessing
• Acting Chief of Air Staff – Air Cdre. Eric Agyen-Frempong
• Acting Chief of Staff – Brig. Gen. Glover Ashong Annan

These appointments will take effect from March 24, 2025.

President Mahama met with the outgoing Service Chiefs, led by Chief of Defence Staff General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, at the Flagstaff House to express his appreciation for their service.

“Mr. Mahama thanked them for their dedicated service to the nation and assured them of his willingness to rely on their varied experiences and depth of knowledge to reset Ghana,” Defense Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah stated in a Facebook post.

MP Ntim Fordjour Raises Concerns Over Military Reshuffle

Reacting to the shake-up, Rev. Ntim Fordjour took to his X (formerly Twitter) page to condemn the move, highlighting its potential financial and structural impact on the Armed Forces.

“President Mahama has today dismissed the Chief of Defence Staff and all Service Chiefs, along with all 12 most senior military officers of the rank of Major-General and above, many of whom had at least six more years before retirement,” he stated.

The MP warned that these dismissals would cost the public purse millions of cedis in gratuities while replacing experienced senior officers with lower-ranked Brigadier Generals (1-star Generals).

He further argued that the reshuffle reverses recent military advancements, stating:

“Just when Ghana expanded its military might—upgrading key corps such as Armour, Artillery, Signals, and 48 Engineers to Brigade status, thereby attaining a 4-star General status for the Chief of Defence Staff—Mahama has reset the top hierarchy back to 1-star General as Chief of Defence Staff. This reset is indeed **backward, costly, and farfetched.”

The removals and subsequent appointments have sparked debate over the implications for national security, military morale, and government spending. While the government sees the shake-up as necessary for a leadership reset, critics argue that the move could weaken the military’s structure and efficiency.

As the transition takes effect on March 24, 2025, all eyes will be on the new military leadership to see how they navigate their roles amid growing concerns.