The Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, gave “alignment with precedent” as one of the justifications for appointing then Brigadier General, and now Lieutenant General, William Agyapong as the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, when he appeared before Parliament on 11th June 2025.

Indeed the assertion that Brigadier Generals had been appointed as Chiefs of Staff in the past is true. So the appointment of a Brigadier General as a Chief of Defence Staff with effect from 24th March 2025 was not an exception but had verifiable precedents.

Dr. Omane Boamah stated that “The appointment of a Brigadier General as CDS, while uncommon, is   not without precedent. Similar actions were taken in 2005 and 2009 following changes in political leadership”

It is true that in 2005, then Brigadier General Joseph Boateng Danquah (GH/1202), General Officer Commanding (GOC), the Southern Command of the Ghana Army was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff to replace Lieutenant General Seth Kofi Obeng (GH/819). It is also true that the elevation of General JB Danquah to the status of CDS was after the retirement of the following Generals.

  1. Lieutenant General SK Obeng – CDS.
  2. Major General CB Yaache (GH/1078) – Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
  3. Rear Admiral J Gbenah (GH/1135) – Chief of Naval Staff
  4. Air Vice Marshal EA Mantey (GH/1227) – Chief of Air Staff (CAS)
  5. Major General NC Coleman (GH/1079) – Commandant GAFCSC
  6. Rear Admiral JY Adoko GH/1069) – Commandant Military Academy and Training Schools.
  7. Brigadier General CH Mankatah (GH/1436) – Commandant Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC)

It is clear from the above that the number of Major Generals, retired on the appointment of then Brigadier General JB Danquah as CDS was five and not seven as argued by Dr. Omane Boamah in Parliament on 11th June 2025.

Dr. Omane Boamah falsely told Parliament that. “In 2005, all seven Major Generals serving at the time were released, none of whom had reached the age of 63.”

We have provided the names and appointments of the serving Major Generals at the time (June 2005) above. It is obvious that the number of the Major Generals and equivalent was five (5) and not seven (7). This means that Dr. Omane Boamah lied under oath in Parliament.

We are persuaded to believe that Dr. Omane Boamah thought that the ranks of the Commandant KAIPTC and Chief of Staff at that time were Major Generals or equivalents as is happening now. As a matter of fact, the first Chief of Staff to be promoted to the rank of Major General in the annals of the Ghana Armed Forces was Major General CA Okae (GH/1213) in December 2000.

He was promoted Major General with his seniors Rear Admiral JY Adoko, Air Vice Marshal B Cole (GH/754), and Major General NC Coleman and above his mates, then Brigadier Generals and equivalents JB Danquah, KA Abdulai, JK Attipoe, George Aryiku, EA Mantey, A Kwayisi and CK Tettey, among others.

In 2005, the Chief of Staff was then Brigadier General SA Odotei (GH/1368) who was appointed the Chief of Army Staff when Brigadier General JB Danquah was appointed the CDS.

Furthermore, in 2005, the second Senior Officer to be appointed as the Commandant KAIPTC was Brigadier General CH Mankatah. He was not promoted to the rank of Major General.

In March 2001 when then Brigadier General CB Yaache, who was the Commandant KAIPTC was appointed the COAS, then Colonel CH Mankatah was the Deputy Commandant KAIPTC. Colonel CH Mankatah was made the Acting Commandant KAIPTC and later confirmed and promoted Brigadier General alongside his mates namely Brigadier Generals E Okyere (GH/1430), DK Frimpong (GH/1433), CS Modey (GH/1434), R Debrah (GH/1440), R Winful (GH/1441), JK Nkrumah (GH/1432) and JN Adinkrah (GH/1446).

Dr. Omane Boamah should have been briefed that the CDS (Lt Gen), Service Chiefs (3 x Maj Gens), the Commandants of MATS and GAFCSC (2x Maj Gens) and the Commandant KAIPTC (Brigadier General CH Mankatah) had all completed their tour of duty for four years in their appointments. They were all given their appointments in March 2001 and were relieved of their positions in June 2005 (after more than four years).

In those circumstances, the compulsory retiring ages were not the major considerations but the need for other equally competent Generals to be given the opportunity to show their competence and to re-energize the system was of paramount importance.

The appointment of then Brigadier General JB Danquah as the CDS has to be put in a proper context and perspective. After the retirement of Lt Gen SK Obeng, Maj Gen CB Yaache, Rear Admiral J Gbenah, AVM EA Mantey, Maj Gen NC Coleman and Rear Admiral JY Adoko, then Brigadier General JB Danquah had become the seniormost officer in the Ghana Armed Forces. In fact, he was the seniormost Brigadier General of the Ghana Armed Forces. He had thus become the obvious choice.

General JB Danquah was promoted Brigadier General on 5th January 2000 alongside the following officers:

  1. Brigadier General AB Donkor (GH/1112) – Judge Advocate General, General Headquarters, Legal.
  2. Brigadier General DCK Kattah (GH/1081) – Director General, Training, General Headquarters – Infantry.
  3. Brigadier General F Adu – Amanfo (GH/1264) – Director General, Defence Intelligence, General Headquarters – Engineer.
  4. Commodore SV Adatsi (GH/1291) – Director General Logistics, General Headquarters – Technical

All the other Brigadier Generals and equivalents at the time were promoted either in December 2000 or after December 2000.

When then Brigadier General JB Danquah was appointed CDS, the following senior officers were also appointed as Service Chiefs and Commandants:

  1. Chief of Army Staff – Brigadier General SA Odotei (GH/1368) – Intake RCC 14 (elevated from Chief of Staff to COAS)
  2. Chief of Naval Staff – Commodore ARS Nuno (GH/1308) – Intake RCC 11
  3. Chief of Air Staff – Air Commondore JO Boateng (GH/1680) – Intake RCC 17.
  4. Chief of Staff – Brigadier General R Winful (GH/1441) – Intake RCC 15
  5. Commandant MATS – Brigadier General KA Abdulai (GH/1205) – Intake RCC 11
  6. Commandant GAFCSC – Brigadier General George Aryiku (GH/1211) – Intake RCC 11
  7. Commandant KAIPTC – Brigadier General JK Attipoe (GH/1247) – Intake RCC 11.

The Service Chiefs and Commandants were all promoted Major Generals and equivalents in June 2005, while the Chief of Defence Staff was promoted Lieutenant General three months later.

The situation in 2005 cannot be compared to that of 2025. If Dr. Omane Boamah cares to know, he would realize that the changes of 2005 were based on merit, seniority, regional balance and proper military traditions and norms.

General JB Danquah was the best cadet (Senior Under Officer) of his intake, RCC 11, and was thus awarded the sword of Honour. He held several key appointments as a young Lieutenant and Captain at Battalion, Company and Platoon levels as an Infantry Officer. He became a Brigade Major (BM) of the then Second Infantry Brigade Group at Kumasi; He was a Commanding Officer for both the 4th and 3rd Infantry Battalions in Kumasi and Sunyani respectively. He commanded the Second ECOMOG Battalion in Liberia before proceeding to UNIFIL as Ghanbatt Commanding Officer, in both cases taking over from his Intake mate, then Lieutenant Colonel George Aryiku of blessed memory.

General JB Danquah was appointed an Assistant Commandant of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (Junior Division) before he was appointed Director of Army Operations, at the Army Headquarters. He took over from Brigadier General Wallace A Gbedemah (GH/1154) as the Chief Staff Officer at Army Headquarters, when the latter was appointed the Director General Personnel Administration at the General Headquarters on 24th August 1999.

In March 2001, then Brigadier General JB Danquah was appointed the General Officer Commanding the Southern Command of the Ghana Army.  It was from that appointment that then Brigadier General JB Danquah was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff after being in rank of Brigadier General for over five (5) years.

With all honesty and sincerity, can Dr. Omane Boamah compare then Brigadier General William Agyapong’s profile as at March 2025 to that of the then Brigadier General JB Danquah as at June 2005?

Obviously, the answer is No. Even though in terms of capacity building both Gen JB Danquah and General W Agyapaong after their Senior Command and Staff Training (PSC) had the privilege to attend War College earning the titles FWC and RCDS respectively. Then Brigadier General W Agyapong was less than four (4) years in the rank of Brigadier General. Can Dr. Omane Boamah compare the abysmal performance of then Brigadier General W Agyapong as Commander of “Operation Galamsey” (OP Vanguard) to that of then Lieutenant Colonel JB Danquah as Commanding Officer ECOMOC Ghanbalt 2? Obviously, the answer is NO. ECOMOG was peace enforcement and not a peacekeeping operation. General W Agyapong should find out from Col FB Aboagye, who wrote on ECOMOG Operations, the nature of the operations in Liberia to see if he can compare himself to then Lieutenant Colonel George Aryiku and Joseph Boateng Danquah, who showed bravery, courage and resilience in Liberia in combat operations.

It is worthy to note that four (4) mates of Regular Career Intake 11 (RCC 11) were all part of the Top Military Hierarchy of the Ghana Armed Forces simultaneously in 2005 when General JB Danquah was appointed the CDS as follows:

  1. Lieutenant General JB Danquah (GH/1202) – Chief of Defence Staff
  2. Major General KA Abdulai (GH/1205) – Commandant MATS
  3. Major General JK Attipoe (GH/1247) – Commandant KAIPTC
  4. Rear Admiral ARS Nuno (GH/1308) – Chief of Naval Staff

These appointments in 2005 were based on merit, competence, diversity, national cohesion and followed military traditions and norms of respecting seniority in service and rank.

Can Dr. Omane Boamoah in honesty and sincerity compare what happened in March 2025 to that of June 2005 when then Brigadier Generals W Agyapong and JB Danquah respectively were appointed as Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces? Obviously the answer is No.

Was then Brigadier General W Agyapong the senior most Brigadier General or equivalent in the Ghana Armed Forces? No.

The records of the Ghana Armed Forces as at March 2025 show that there were over twenty (20) Senior Brigadier Generals and equivalents who were senior to then Brigadier General W Agyapong before his appointment as CDS.

Again, was any Intake mate of then Brigadier General  W Agyapong considered in the Top Military Hierarchy (If you like Military High Command) in March 2025? The appointments in March 2025 were as follows:

  1. Brigadier General W Agyapong – Chief of Defence Staff; RCC 30
  2. Brigadier General LK Gbetanu – Chief Of Army Staff;  RCC 31
  3. Commodore GL Bessing – Chief of Naval Staff; RCC 32
  4. Air Commodore E Agyen – Frempong – Chief of Air Staff; RCC 32
  5. Air Commodore JL Mensah-Larkai – Chief Of Staff, General Headquarters; RCC 32
  6. Commodore M Arhen – Commandant TRADOC; RCC 33
  7. Brigadier General J Wonje – Commandant GAFCSC; RCC 32
  8. Air Commodore DA Akrong – Commandant KAIPTC; RCC 32

Furthermore, we wish to reiterate the fact that, as correctly stated by Dr. Omane Boamah, “The appointment of a Brigadier General as CDS, while uncommon, is not without precedent”.

As a matter of fact, Brigadier General J Nunoo – Mensah (GH/512) was the first Brigadier General to be appointed as the CDS of the Ghana Armed Forces in June 1979 and January 1982. In June 1979 when the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) overthrew the government of then Supreme Military Council II of General FWK Akuffo (GH/137), Brigadier General J Nunoo – Mensah was appointed the CDS as all the Major Generals and equivalents and above, except Lieutenant General Joshua Hamidu (GH/98), were either executed or compulsorily retired.

Lieutenant General JM Hamidu was appointed the Liaison Officer of the AFRC but was relieved of his appointment as the CDS on 4th June 1979. Brigadier General J Nunoo – Mensah was retired after 24th September 1979, when the AFRC handed over power to the Limann Administration. Brigadier General J Nunoo – Mensah was recalled from retirement after the 31st December 1981 coup of the PNDC. When Brigadier General J Nunoo- Mensah was re-appointed the CDS of the Ghana Armed Forces, he was the seniormost commissioned officer and Brigadier General or equivalent in the Ghana Armed Forces.

Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the Defence Minister, continued his justification for appointing then Brigadier General W Agyapong as CDS by stating to Parliament that “In 2009, another six Major Generals were similarly released”.

It is true that when the late Professor JEA Mills became the President of the Republic of Ghana on 7th January 2009, changes were effected in the Top Hierarchy of the Ghana Armed Forces. The following Generals were released.

  1. Lieutenant General JB Danquah – Chief of Defence Staff
  2. Major General SA Odotei – Chief Of Air Staff
  3. Rear Admiral ARS Nuno – Chief of Naval Staff
  4. Air Vice Marshal  JO Boateng – Chief of Air Staff
  5. Major General KA Abdulai – Commandant MATS
  6. Major General RE Baiden – Commandant GAFCSC
  7. Major General JK Attipoe – Commandant KAIPTC

Thus, one (1) Lieutenant General and six (6) Major Generals and equivalents were released as correctly stated by Dr. Omane Boamah to Parliament on 11th June 2025.

Then Brigadier General Peter Augustine Blay (GH/1398), who was the seniormost Brigadier General of the Ghana Armed Forces at that time was appointed the CDS. The appointments made in 2009 were as follows:

  1. Lieutenant General PA Blay – Chief of Defence Staff; RCC 13
  2. Rear Admiral Mathew Quashie – Chief of Naval Staff; RCC 15
  3. Major General Gen Joseph Narh Adinkrah – Chief Of Army Staff; RCC 15
  4. Air Vice Marshal Michael Samso-Oje-Chief of Air Staff; RCC 19.
  5. Rear Admiral Muhammed Munir Tahiru – Commandant MATS; RCC 15
  6. Major General Kwesi Yankson – Commandant GAFCSC, RCC 13
  7. Air Vice Marshal Christian Edem Kobla Dovlo – Commandant KAIPTC; SSC/75
  8. Major General Carl Setorwu Modey – Commissioner Customs, Exercise and Preventive Service (CEPS), RCC 15

The changes in the GAF in 2009 were similar to those of 2005. In both cases, the senior most Brigadier Generals at the time were appointed the CDS. Similarly, some Intake Mates were appointed as Service Chiefs and Commandants.

Obviously, the situation in March 2025 was quite different in context, intent and practice. The posture of President Mahama, Dr. Omane Boamah and hawks in the NDC was one of vendetta, victimization and wickedness. While President Mahama and his NDC hawks were rewarding their loyalists (some of whom contributed financially towards elections 2024), they were also callous, insensitive, mischievous, vindictive and wicked towards innocent professional military Generals and Officers (such as the Army Commanding Officers), who performed their duties professionally and competently.

That explains the compulsory retirement of seventeen (17) Major Generals and equivalents and above on 24th March and 25th April 2025 and the appointment of Junior Brigadier Generals as CDS, Service Chiefs and Commandants, and the removal of Commanding Officers.

ONYAME AHU BIRIBIARA”. BIRIBIARA WO NE MERE”.

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