Ghana's President John Agyekum Kufour on Friday retired the top brass of the military and appointed new ones to act in their capacities pending the establishment of the Council of State and the Armed Forces Council.

An official statement from the Office of the President on named the retiring officers as Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant- General Ben Akafia, Army Commander Lieutenant-General Joseph Smith, Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, and Air Force Commander Air Marshal John Bruce.

The rest are Chief of Staff Major General C.A. Okae, General Officer Commanding Northern Command Major General Henry Anyindoho, and General Officer Commanding Southern Command Major General Francis Mahama.

Newly appointed officers are Chief of Defence Staff Major General Seth Obeng, Chief of Army Staff Brigadier C.B. Yaache,
Chief of Air Staff Air Commodore E.A. Mantey,
Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral J. Gbena, and Chief of Staff, Ministry of Defence, Brigadier F.K.Y. Mensah.
Brigadier G. Aryiku has been appointed Commander of Northern Command and Brigadier J.B. Danquah is new Commander of the Southern Command.

The statement said President Kufour has appointed Lt. Gen. Akafia Ambassador-designate. It said "the other retired senior officers would be called upon to serve the country in the near future."