Dr Edward Omane Boamah is the Minister of Defence
The Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has tackled the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior, John Ntim Fordjour, regarding the release of certain army generals from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
His explanation follows a question by the Ranking Member of the Committee, Ntim Fordjour, which sought clarity on the rationale behind the termination and release of the 15 Major Generals (holding two-star ranks and equivalent) after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s appointment of a Brigadier General (one-star) as Acting Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Dr Omane Boamah argued that his colleague’s question was fundamentally flawed, emphasising how it could potentially mislead the public.
In response to the question in a Facebook post on Thursday, June 12, 2025, he clarified that, the release was carried out based on past precedents set by previous governments.
He asserted that the Ghana Armed Forces’ established the practice regarding the release of army generals, and the applicable regulatory framework.
“Mr Speaker, let me be abundantly clear. Even though Rev John Ntim Fordjour alludes to the termination of ‘all Fifteen (15) Major Generals (2 Star) and equivalent…’ I must state that the Honourable Member of Parliament for Assin South got his question wrong. Respectfully, if the wrong question is not corrected it can mislead the public since the cameras are here,” he said.
He cited precedents from the years 2001, 2005, and 2009, noting that in 2001, following a change of government, six Major Generals and four Lieutenant Generals, aged between 56 and 60, were released, despite the fact that they had not attained the official retirement ages of 63 and 65.
“In 2001, after a change of government, six (6) Major Generals and four (4) Lieutenant Generals were released from the Ghana Armed Forces with their ages running from 56 to 62 [less than 63 and 65]. In 2005, there were Seven (7) Major Generals, Mr Speaker. In this instance, none of them were near their compulsory retiring age of 63 years in the Ghana Armed Forces. All of them were released. I mean all of them were released unlike in our case where some have remained and are serving in valued and enviable capacities presently,” he said.
Dr Omane Boamah stated that eight Major Generals holding two-star ranks were set to begin their terminal leave ahead of their compulsory retirement.
Additionally, he added that four other two-star generals, nearing the Ghana Armed Forces’ mandatory retirement age of 63, were between 60 and 62 years old, in accordance with GAF regulations.
“Eight (Major Generals (2 Star) had reached the point to commence their terminal leave pending compulsory retirement. Four (4) Major Generals (2 Star), aged between 60 and 62 years are to be released prior to their mandatory retirement age (63), which is in accordance with GAF Regulations and precedence (norms and practices),” he said.
He also went on to say, “Mr Speaker, let me add that, Major General Irvin Nii-Ayittey Aryeetey who is among the eight (is being sponsored in the rank of Lieutenant General to compete for the high office of Military Adviser); an office of the Military Affairs of the Department of Peace Operations at the Assistant Secretary General Level at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.
“Mr Speaker, this means that altogether, twelve (12) Major Generals out of which eight (8) were due for their terminal leave prior to compulsory retirement will be released from the service sometime in December 2025 and January 2026, save for Major General Irvin Ayittey being appointed at the UN.”
The minister stated that the decision, which aligns with the government’s resetting agenda, was aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the army service in accordance with established procedures, emphasising that it was carried out legally.
Read his post below
MAG/VPO
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