A Brigadier General of the Ghana Armed Forces, Chris Ocran with 38 years of sacrifice to Ghana was maltreated to the extend that he had some of his personnel belongings thrown out in the open when the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Northern Sector took office.
Though the Military Secretary publication of 22nd July 2011 gave 14 days for handing or taking over, DAYBREAK gathers that Brigadier General R Opoku Adusei reported on Monday 25th July 2011.
Even before the official handing over ceremony, the new GOC who was not recognized was already spotted in town driving in the vehicles of the GOC with men busily packing out the belongings of Brigadier General Ocran for the new occupant.
The family of Brigadier General Ocran and his belongings were moved to the GOC’s guest house because General Ocran was not in town.
According to sources, as at 8:30 am on Sunday 24th July 2011, Brigadier General Ocran had neither heard of nor seen the “explosive” Military Secretary publication which had appointed Brigadier General R Opoku Adusei as the new GOC with effect from the same 22nd July 2011.
The most awful part DAYBREAK gathers is the farewell church service organized for Brigadier General Ocran. Though not proven beyond doubt, sources say the church service was organized by the “powers that be” with the Garrison Chaplain fully briefed on it to take place on 24th July 2011.
Immediately the Military Secretary publication was put out, our sources within the top echelon of the Military High Command say the new GOC did not call the outgoing GOC that he was leaving Accra for Kumasi on Monday 25th July 2011 to take over from him.
Also, the Army Commander, Major General JN Adinkrah, did not even have the courtesy and humane feelings to call the General who was the second in command in the Army to inform him about the intended change DAYBREAK is informed.
“He should have done that to enable Chris prepare his notes and other necessaries for the handing over but he chose his own way”, a source noted.
The source continued that “Chris’ pass had been approved by the Army Commander and was therefore in Accra on Monday 25th July 2011 when the new GOC sent a message from Kumasi to him in Accra that he should come and hand over to him.
“Is this right my brother, treating your colleague General like a subordinate, is it really fair? I don’t think this country is worth dying for….it is everywhere and you know it”.
DAYBREAK gathers that even before the handing over between Generals Ocran and Opoku Adusei, the former GOC had to use his own private car for his usual rounds while the yet-to-take over GOC rode in the official vehicles for the GOC with red flags flying high.
DAYBREAK is reliably informed that Brigadier General Ocran arrived in Kumasi on Wednesday 27th July 2011 by air and handed over his duties within an hour to the new GOC. He was said to have returned to Accra the very same day after handing over.
DAYBREAK gathers that all the items of Brigadier General Ocran were packed into a military truck and conveyed to Accra the very day he handed over to the new GOC.
Our sources are wondering whether the President and his Vice are “ignorant” of the numerous sacrifices that Brigadier General Ocran had made to the nation and the Ghana Armed Forces to deserve such a treatment.