The Chairman of the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament, James Agalga, has criticised former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his decision to promote some military officers to the rank of General before leaving office.

According to Mr. Agalga, the move was unwarranted, as Ghana’s military contingent does not meet the international threshold required for such high-ranking promotions.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday, March 24, Mr. Agalga argued that the former president’s decision to elevate the Service Chiefs to the rank of three-star general and the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) to a four-star general was inconsistent with international military standards.

He stated that Ghana’s military personnel strength is currently around 30,000, which falls far below the 50,000 threshold that typically justifies such promotions.

“Having failed abysmally in expanding the Ghana Armed Forces, Mr. Speaker, the President came and stood before this House in his departing State of the Nation address and announced that he had appointed the Service Chief to the rank of three-star general or its equivalent and the CDS to the rank of a four-star general when the size of our force hovers around 30,000. We haven’t met the threshold of 50,000 to have warranted such a promotion.”