The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, has announced his intention to summon the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, before Parliament to address the controversial dismissal of senior Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) generals by President John Dramani Mahama.

The Assin South MP’s move follows his criticism of the president’s recent overhaul of the military leadership, which he has described as "egoistic," "premature," and "backward."

In a post on X on March 18, 2025, Rev Ntim Fordjour expressed dismay over Mahama’s decision, announced on March 17, 2025, to dismiss the Chief of Defence Staff, all service chiefs, and 12 senior military officers of Major-General rank and above, including two-star, three-star, and four-star generals.

He argued that the abrupt removal of these officers, many of whom had up to six years of service remaining before retirement, imposes a significant financial burden on the state.

"Most of these generals, by rank and age, have six (6) more years to serve in the military before their retirement. What this implies for the public purse is that gratuities will have to be paid, running into millions of cedis, due to the egoistic, premature dismissals of senior-ranked generals," he wrote.

The MP further criticised the appointment of lower-ranked Brigadier Generals (one-star generals) to replace the dismissed officers, stating that it undermines Ghana’s military hierarchy.

He highlighted that under the previous administration, key corps such as armour, artillery, signals, and 48 Engineers were upgraded to Brigade status, elevating the Chief of Defence Staff to a four-star general position — a status he claims has now been reversed.

"Just when Ghana expanded its military might… Mahama has reset the top hierarchy back to 1-star General as Chief of Defence Staff. This reset is indeed backward, costly, and far-fetched," he asserted.

In his latest tweet on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, the Ranking Member expressed his intent to demand accountability from the minister by bringing him before the Defence and Interior Committee to address his concerns.

"In the exercise of oversight, the Minister for Defence, as a matter of urgency, shall be hauled before the Committee on Defence and Interior to provide answers to these concerns, inter alia, and offer assurances as to how this unprecedented transition would be managed to restore morale to the rank and file of Ghana Armed Forces," he wrote.

The dismissal of the generals comes on the back of President Mahama’s broader restructuring of Ghana’s security architecture since taking office in January 2025, following his victory in the December 7, 2024, presidential election.

Notable changes include the removal of Dr George Akuffo Dampare as Inspector General of Police on March 14, 2025, replaced by COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, alongside leadership shifts in the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and Ghana Prisons Service.

However, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP, a former Deputy Minister of Education, has warned that the military dismissals could erode morale and operational efficiency within the GAF, potentially setting a dangerous precedent for Ghana’s defence strategy.

On Mahama’s mass dismissal of all senior generals in Ghana Armed Forces of the rank of Major General equivalent and above, it is imperative to note the worthy precedent of judicious transition in the command of Ghana Armed Forces as was demonstrated by President @NAkufoAddo in…

— John Ntim Fordjour MP (@NtimFordjour) March 19, 2025