…Over ‘Massive Change’ Brouhaha
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is racing against time to bring clarity over whether or not there has been any massive change to the ranks of the Force.
The DAYBREAK in its July 12, 2022 edition published a story over some changes in the ranks of the Security Service, publication officials of the Force strongly deny.
The paper had indicated that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has been elevated from a Three Star status to a Four Star while the Service Chiefs and Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters, have all been elevated from Two Star to Three Star status.
However, the GAF speaking through Naval Captain, M. A Larbi, the Director of Public Relations in a statement seeking to rubbish the story rather than authenticated same.
According to Naval Captain Larbi, “GAF wishes to state that no such changes have been made at this material time. It must be noted that any such high elevations made by the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces in consultation with the Council of State, would have been officially promulgated and announced by the appropriate authority, indicating the date such elevations took effect.”
In a rather dramatic U-turn, the Senior Naval Officer however admitted that some changes have been made.
He wrote: “GAF further wishes to emphasise that over the past years, there has been vast expansion, restructuring and retooling of the Armed Forces. This has resulted in the creation of new Commands, Brigades and Units and also a huge increment in the strength of GAF.”
Naval Captain Larbi continued: ‘Accordingly, the rank structure, appointments and designations within GAF have been impacted leading to a re-alignment and adjustments to the various levels of elevation in accordance to the expanded roles and increased responsibilities”.
In the view of GAF’s Director of Public Relations, “these upgrades which are subject to ONLY APPROVED PROPOSALS, have been programmed in phases and being implemented systematically over a period of time.”
He adds that “Based on the above, any similar and proposed elevation to the existing ranks of the Military High Command, is subject to approval by the President of the Republic/Commander-in-Chief of GAF and subsequently an official announcement by the appropriate authority made to that effect.”
Having said this, Naval Captain Larbi argued: “GAF once again wishes to indicate that contrary to the publication by DAYBREAK Newspaper, there has not been any changes to the rank structure of the Military High Command at this material time.”
Find the rejoinder below unedited:
RE: MASSIVE CHANGES IN GAF
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has monitored a story in the Tuesday, 12 July 2022 edition of DAYBREAK Newspaper, purporting that there have been massive changes in GAF. The paper claimed that Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) has been elevated from a Three Star status to a Four Star while the Service Chiefs and Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters, have all been elevated from Two Star to Three Star status.
GAF wishes to state that no such changes have been made at this material time. It must be noted that any such high elevations made by the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces in consultation with the Council of State, would have been officially promulgated and announced by the appropriate authority, indicating the date such elevations took effect.
GAF further wishes to emphasise that over the past years, there has been vast expansion, restructuring and retooling of the Armed Forces. This has resulted in the creation of new Commands, Brigades and Units and also a huge increment in the strength of GAF. These upgrades have been in response to the existing and emerging security threats facing the country, and the ever increasing roles of GAF in peacekeeping, internal security operations and other important roles in support of national development.
Accordingly, the rank structure, appointments and designations within GAF have been impacted leading to a re-alignment and adjustments to the various levels of elevation in accordance to the expanded roles and increased responsiblities. However, these upgrades which are subject to ONLY APPROVED PROPOSALS, have been programmed in phases and being implemented systematically over a period of time.
Based on the above, any similar and proposed elevation to the existing ranks of the Military High Command, is subject to approval by the President of the Republic/Commander-in-Chief of GAF and subsequently an official announcement by the appropriate authority made to that effect.
GAF once again wishes to indicate that contrary to the publication by DAYBREAK Newspaper, there has not been any changes to the rank structure of the Military High Command at this material time.
The paper is once again advised to take advantage of the access to the Directorate of Public Relations to seek clarification on such matters in order avert misinforming the general public.
MA LARBI
Naval Captain
Director Public Relations
