Christmas Bonus In The Ghana Armed Forces

In March and April 2025, “the Supreme Commander of the Fourth Republic” after taking the oath of President of Ghana on 7^th January 2025 brought about a “Tsunami” in the annals of the Ghana Armed Forces. The Supreme Commander appointed then Brigadier Generals and equivalent as the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Chiefs and Chief of Staff with effect from 24^th March 2025.

For the avoidance of doubt, the following were the appointments and promotions announced by the President, through the Minister for Information and spokesperson for Government, Honourable Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese:

1. Brigadier General William Agyapong (GH/2431) – Chief of Defence Staff (RCC 30).
2. Brigadier General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu (GH/2504) – Chief of Army Staff (RCC 31).
3. Naval Commodore Godwin Livinus Bessing (GH/2617) – Chief of Naval Staff (RCC 32).
4. Air Commodore Eric Agyen – Frempong (GH/2603) – Chief of Air Staff (RCC 32).
5. Brigadier General Glover Ashong Annan (GH/2700) Chief of Staff (RCC 34).

On Sunday 23^rd March, 2025, then Air Commodore Joshua Lartei Mensah – Larkai (GH/2609) of RCC 32 was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces to replace Brigadier General Glover Ashong Annan, who was appointed on that same day to replace Brigadier General Zibrim Bawa Ayorrogo as the Commissioner for the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

The CDS, the Service Chiefs and the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces were all promoted from Brigadier General and equivalent to Major General and equivalent with effect from 24^th March 2025.

Thus, the Command Structure of the Ghana Armed Forces with effect from 24^th March 2025 became as follows:

1. Major General William Agyapong – CDS.
2. Major General Lawrence Kwaku Ghetanu – COAS
3. Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing – CNS.
4. Air Vice Marshal Eric Agyen – Frempong – CAS
5. Air Vice Marshal Joshua Lartei Mensah – Larkai – Chief of Staff.

Earlier on 7^th February and 11^th March 2025, then Brigadier General Paul Seidu Tanye – Kulono (GH/2495) of RCC 32 and Brigadier General Maxwel Obuba Mantey (GH/2721) of RCC 34 had been appointed Director General Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) and Director General Narcotics Control Commission respectively.

On 1^st May 2025, the Chief of Defence Staff, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General to commensurate with his appointment. On that same 1^st May 2025, Temporary Major General Anita Asmah (GH/2577), Force Commander of UNDOF was confirmed with the substantive rank of Major General.

With effect from 24^th March and 25^th April 2025, the former CDS, General Thomas Oppong Peprah, Four (4) Lieutenant Generals and equivalent, and twelve (12) Major Generals and equivalent were compulsorily retired from the Ghana Armed Forces.

All the vacancies created by the compulsory retirement of the Major Generals and equivalent were filled by Brigadier Generals and equivalent. Prominent among those appointments were the following.

1. Brigadier General Frederick Dankyi Ntiri (GH/2678) Commandant, National College of Defence Studies.
2. Brigadier General Stephen Woseadzikpo Kweku Parbey (GH/2554), Chief of Defence Intelligence.
3. Brigadier General Jackson Wonje (GH/2549) – Commandant Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
4. Brigadier General Cornelius Kobla Lithur (GH/2502) – Commandant Ghana Military Academy.
5. Brigadier General Anthony Ntem (GH/2434) – Commissioner General, Ghana Boundary Commission.
6. Commodore Maxwell Arhen (GH/2742) – Commandant, Training and Doctrine (TRADOC).
7. Air Commodore David Anetey Annan (GH/2614) – Commandant, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre (KAIPTC).

These appointments were strategically made by the “Reset Cabinet” headed by the Supreme Commander himself as he personally chaired the meeting of the Armed Force Council at the time that Her Excellency the Vice President, was outside the jurisdiction of Ghana seeking medical treatment.

Most of these Brigadier Generals were appointed not by seniority and merit but mainly by their loyalty and contribution to the “War Chest”, “War Efforts” and “Electoral Operations” in the December 2024 Parliamentary Elections and Presidential Elections. The phrase: “NO CONTRIBUTION, NO CHOP” was applied very strictly in the publication of those appointments.

Very senior, more competent and better professionally developed Generals, were “by passed” and their juniors and mediocre colleagues were appointed and promoted over them.

Very interesting stories abound where senior officers, from the NDC politically and ethnocentrically correct Regions, were ignored because they were suspected to have cooperated with the NPP Administration of His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo. Others were also seen to be very close to the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Thomas Oppong-Peprah.

The “Reward System” institutionalized by the Supreme Commander in the Ghana Armed Forces from January 2025 has blossomed into fruition. In December 2025 as “Christmas Bonus” for the beneficiaries of the Reward System” of the Supreme Commander, the following prominent promotions were published by the Military Secretary after recommendations from the Armed Forces Council had been approved:

1. Major Generals and Equivalent.

1. Major General Anthony Ntem.
2. Major General Frederick Dankyi Ntiri
3. Major General Stephen Woseadzikpo Kweku Parbey
4. Major General Jackson Wonje
5. Major General Cornelius Kobla Lithur
6. Major General Paul Seidu Tanye – Kulono
7. Rear Admiral Maxwell Arhen
8. Air Vice Marshal David Anetey Akrong.

All the above – named Major Generals and equivalent had in the past been associated with and played significant roles for the NDC in 2008, 2012 and 2024 elections.

For instance, our investigations have revealed that in the 2008 elections and in particular January 2, 2009, re-run of the Tain Constituency Presidential Elections then Major Cornelius Kweku Lithur (brother of Mr. Tony Lithur of NDC’s fame) was the Second In Command at the Third Battalion of Infantry at Sunyani and was given the operational command of the Tain Constituency as the Combat Team Commander by the then Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Michael Ayisi Amoah.

When President Mills was sworn into office both the former CO and 2IC of the 3^rd Battalion of Infantry were rewarded with appointments and promotions.

The promotions of Brigadier Generals MO Mantey and GA Annan to the rank of Major General are expected by the end of December 2026.

There was only one significant promotion to the rank of Brigadier General. That vacancy fell to Brigadier General Monte Kwaku Nuamah Kuntin (GH/3076).

In the promotions of 25^th April 2025, then Colonel MKN Kutin was deliberately “bypassed” as he was not seen to be politically and ethnocentrically correct through the NDC lenses.

As a Professional Medical Officer, then Colonel Kutin was professionally performing his duties to the admiration of the Ghana Armed Forces Medical and Dental Service. He had been very cool, diligent and professionally very upright but the “Festival of NDC Passover” was visited upon him.

Several of his colleagues, senior and junior to then Colonel Kutin, were promoted to the rank of Brigadier Generals over and above him on 25^th April 2025 as follows:

1. Brigadier General Clement Titus Nii Mensah Laryea (GH/3073)
2. Brigadier General Percy Sydney Tete Annan (GH/3074)
3. Brigadier General Nicodemus Larbi Simpong (GH/3075)
4. Brigadier General Joy Frederick Nyankomabo Anaman (GH/3078)

Luckily, the serious omission of 25^th April 2025 has now been corrected and Major General MKN Kutin is now the Director GAFCCEH (Head of Surgical).

3. Colonels and Equivalents

The mother of all “Kokofu promotions” and Animal Farm scenario occurred in December 2025, when only an insignificant number of Lieutenant Colonels and equivalent were promoted to the rank of Colonel.

Interestingly, the small number went to only those on the “Reward System” List of the Supreme Commander as follows:

1. Colonel Ibrahim Enusah Abdulai (GH/3231) – Attached to Office of the President’s Security Coordination.
2. Colonel Abdul Wahab Issah (GH/3232) – ADC to the President.

The two newly promoted Colonels, who are all attached to the Jubilee House, working directly for the safety, security, welfare, well-being and protection of the Supreme Commander are brothers. Is it not a case of Family and Friends?

4. Lieutenant Colonels and Equivalent

Here again, the number of Majors and equivalent promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on the eve of Christmas 2025 is small and pregnant with interesting revelations as follows:

1. Lieutenant Colonel Abdulai Mohammed Salifu (GH/4949)
2. Lieutenant Colonel Kwame Owusu-Gyimah (GH/3878)
3. Lieutenant Colonel Erasmus Delanya Yeyeava (GH/3881)
4. Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Nana Apeagyei (GH/3885)
5. Lieutenant Colonel Prince Manu Duodu (GH/3888)
6. Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Incoom (GH/3891)
7. Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Oletey Ackwerh (GH/3892)
8. Lieutenant Colonel John Otoo (GH/3893)
9. Lieutenant Colonel Bismark Kwesi Atimbiok (GH/3894)
10. Lieutenant Colonel Kofi Ansah Sarfo (GH/3896)
11. Lieutenant Colonel Kingsley Owusu Agyemang (GH/3895)
12. Lieutenant Colonel Fui Kwesi Amable (GH/3901)
13. Lieutenant Colonel Enoch Kweku Mensah (GH/3907)
14. Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Addai Tweneboa-Kodua (GH/3909)
15. Lieutenant Colonel Christiana Osei Duah (GH/3910)
16. Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Akyena (GH/3914)
17. Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Nkrumah (GH/3915)
18. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Abubakari (GH/3933)
19. Lieutenant Colonel Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu (GH/3955)
20. Lieutenant Colonel Brian Precious Anati (GH/3983)
21. Lieutenant Colonel Kwadwo Octhere-Prempeh (GH/3610)
22. Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Nana Acheampong (GH/3621)
23. Lieutenant Colonel Eric Kwame Ebonyi (GH/3624)
24. Lieutenant Colonel George Appiah (GH/3637).

Several officers of the same Intakes who were qualified and eligible for promotion from the rank of Major and equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent were either bypassed, ignored or marginalized because they are considered to be politically, and ethnocentrically incorrect, and were not captured by the lenses of the “Protectors of the Supreme Commander’s Reward System”

5. Appointments of Defence Advisers/Attache’s

An unprecedented number of officers have been appointed to capitals of several countries to open new offices as Defence Advisers/Attachés. The “lucky officers” on the Reward System’s List of the Supreme Commander include the following!

1. Brigadier General Winfred Dzandu-Hedidor (GH/2435) DA Niger, Office of DA Niamey.
2. Brigadier General Ben Gah (GH/2679) – DA, Israel, office of DA Tel-Aviv
3. Brigadier General Isaac Nicholas Paintsil (GH/2560) – DA, Burkina Faso, Office of DA Ouagadougou
4. Brigadier General Fuseini Salifu (GH/2638) – DA Iran, Office of DA Tehran.
5. Brigadier General Yehuza Salifu (GH/2685) – DA Mali, Office of DA Bamako.

1. Other Appointments for Brigadier General and Equivalent

There were some other interesting key appointments in the “Christmas Bonus Animal Farm Kokofu Promotions and Appointments”:

1. Brigadier General Wellington Kwame Attipoe-Dumashie (GH/2754) – Senior DS, National College of Defence Studies.
2. Brigadier General Andrews Seth Mensah Attoh (GH/2778) – GAFHS HQ Director General Medical/Dental
3. Brigadier General Michael Antiaye Addy (GH/2789) GAATS HQ, DG Medical; Support Service.
4. Brigadier General Abednego Eclaire Shooter (GH/2823) – Army HQ Deputy Chief Staff Officer.
5. Brigadier General Ebenezer Mark Alo (GH/2824) – Assistant Commandant, GAFCSC, Junior Division.
6. Brigadier General Godwill Yao De-Souza (GH/2826) – Director Research and Development, National College for Defence Studies.
7. Brigadier General George Abosi Oppong (GH/2832) – Office of Chief of Staff, General Headquarters
8. Brigadier General Percy Sydney Tete Annan (GH/3074) – Commander, Level II Field Hospital, Tamale
9. Brigadier General John Ishmael Yao Boglo (GH/2701) – Director General Training, General Headquarters (Training)

Other Appointments, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and Equivalent

1. Colonel Alexander Godwin Azera (GH/2882) – Deputy Commander, Army Special Operations Battalion.
2. Colonel George Beesi Eduah (GH/3254) – Acting Director General Defence Communications and Information Systems
3. Lieutenant Colonel Alex Edeku (GH/3502) – HQ, 17 Army Signal Brigade
4. Lieutenant Colonel Edward Alotei Thompson (GH/3577) – Commanding Officer, 174 Signal Regiment
5. Lieutenant Colonel K Owusu – Gyimah – Directing Staff, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC).
6. Lieutenant Colonel BK Atimbiok – Commanding Officer, 87 Signal Regiment.
7. Lieutenant Colonel BP Anati – Directing Staff, GAFCSC.
8. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Twumasi (GH/3535) – Headquarters, Northern Command – Gender Adviser.

The case of Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Twumasi and other Asante Officers will be given special attention in subsequent publications as victims of the vindictiveness, wickedness and ethnocentrism and political persecution by the Military High Command, especially at the hands of the Chief of the Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters.