President John Dramani Mahama has made a significant move by dismissing the Chief of Defence Staff, General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, along with other senior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces. General Oppong-Peprah had been appointed to the role in January 2024 following the retirement of Vice Admiral Seth Amoama. However, after just 15 months in office, he is now set to be replaced by Brigadier General William Agyapong, who has been appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff by the President.
The decision, which also involved a major reshuffle in the Ghana Armed Forces, was officially announced in a statement dated 17 March and signed by the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu. The outgoing service chiefs had a meeting with the President at the Flagstaff House, where Mr. Mahama expressed his gratitude for their service. He thanked them for their dedicated service to the nation and assured them of his willingness to rely on their extensive experience and expertise to reset Ghana.
As part of the restructuring, the following individuals have been appointed as Acting Service Chiefs for the Ghana Armed Forces, pending consultation with the Council of State:
1. Acting Chief of the Defence Staff – Brigadier General William Agyapong
2. Acting Chief of Army Staff – Brigadier General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu
3. Acting Chief of Naval Staff – Commodore Godwin Livinus Bessing
4. Acting Chief of Air Staff – Air Commodore Eric Agyen-Frempong
5. Acting Chief of Staff – Brigadier General Glover Ashong Annan
This move signifies a significant change in leadership within the Ghana Armed Forces, with new faces taking on key roles to drive the military forward. The President’s decision to dismiss and appoint new service chiefs demonstrates his commitment to ensuring effective leadership and governance within the armed forces. It remains to be seen how the new appointees will navigate their roles and contribute to the security and stability of the nation.
