The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee has successfully influenced key adjustments in the recently announced appointments within the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Their push for meritocracy has led to the reassignment of the Chief of Staff position and the promotion of newly appointed Service Chiefs.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Assin South MP and a member of the Defence and Interior Committee, Hon. John Ntim Fordjour, confirmed that Air Vice Marshal Mensah-Larkai has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of the GAF, replacing Brigadier-General Ashong Annan.
“We welcome wholeheartedly the appointment of Air Vice Marshal Mensah-Larkai (2-Star General) as the new Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and congratulate him on his well-deserved appointment,” Hon. Fordjour stated.
According to him, the Minority’s intervention also ensured that the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and other Service Chiefs were all promoted to 2-Star Generals, aligning with standard military progression.
“This is a significant step towards upholding fairness in the military command structure. We shall continue our oversight to ensure that consequential promotions of backlog Colonels and their equivalents are done based on meritorious credentials to restore morale among officers,” Hon. Fordjour added.
The reshuffle initially announced by President John Mahama as Commander-in-Chief had raised concerns among stakeholders, particularly regarding rank disparities in key leadership roles.
The revisions are seen as a corrective measure to uphold the principles of fairness and professionalism in the Ghana Armed Forces.
The Defence and Interior Committee, particularly the Minority Caucus, has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a transparent and merit-driven process in military appointments and promotions.
