Assin South MP Criticizes Mahama’s Reshuffle of Military Leadership
Accra, Ghana – March 2025 – Assin South Member of Parliament (MP), John Ntim Fordjour, has raised concerns over President John Mahama’s appointment of new leadership for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), describing the move as “backward, costly, and far-fetched.”
A statement issued on Monday, March 17, by Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced the leadership changes, stating they are part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s defence architecture.
However, Rev. Fordjour, who serves as Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, has criticized the reshuffle, arguing that it hurts military morale and weakens the chain of command.
Concerns Over Military Command Structure
According to Rev. Fordjour, the reshuffle replaces senior-ranked generals with lower-ranked Brigadier Generals (1-star Generals), disrupting military hierarchy and creating instability within the armed forces.
Additionally, he noted that many of the dismissed officers had up to six years before retirement, and their premature removal will impose a financial burden on the state due to severance and gratuity payments.
“What this implies on the public purse is that gratuities will have to be paid running into millions of cedis due to the egoistic premature dismissals at the command of Ghana Armed Forces,” he posted on X.
New Ghana Armed Forces Leadership
The new appointments, which take effect on March 24, 2025, include:
- Brigadier General William Agyapong – Acting Chief of the Defence Staff
- Brigadier General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu – Acting Chief of Army Staff
- Commodore Godwin Livinus Blessing – Acting Chief of Naval Staff
- Air Commodore Eric Agyen-Frempong – Acting Chief of Air Staff
- Brigadier General Glover Ashong Annan – Acting Chief of Staff
Debate Over Impact on Ghana’s Military
The reshuffle has sparked debate over its impact on military effectiveness and whether the appointment of lower-ranked officers will enhance or diminish Ghana’s defence readiness.
Critics argue that politicizing military leadership could undermine professionalism and strategic stability, while supporters see it as a necessary restructuring to bring in fresh perspectives.
The Ghanaian public and security analysts will be closely watching how these changes affect military operations and national security in the coming months.
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