The Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has cautioned against attempts to politicise the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), warning that proposals to raise the recruitment age limit could open the door for partisan influence in the military.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Burning Issues, Rev. Fordjour criticised recent suggestions by the Minister for Communication, Digital Innovation and Technology, Sam George, and the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, to increase the upper age limit for enlistment into the Armed Forces to 30 years or more.
He described the proposal as “misguided and dangerous,” alleging it is part of a broader attempt to favour political loyalists rather than uphold merit-based recruitment.
“The Ghana Armed Forces is not a dumping ground for political foot soldiers,” Rev. Fordjour said firmly. Recruitment into the military must remain professional, transparent, and insulated from political manipulation.”
He further expressed concern that the involvement of senior government figures like Sam George, who, as a cabinet minister, participates in national decision-making, and Dafeamekpor, as Majority Chief Whip, suggests a deliberate attempt to influence the process.
“This is not an innocent suggestion. It’s a calculated move to insert overaged and unqualified party loyalists into the Armed Forces as a reward for their campaign efforts in the 2024 elections,” he claimed. “Ghanaians must not sit idle and allow this to happen.”
Rev. Fordjour emphasised that the Ghana Armed Forces operates as a disciplined, nonpartisan institution whose standards must not be compromised.
He urged citizens to support the military’s independence and professionalism, noting that its recruitment system is already aligned with international best practices.
“Just look at the recruitment process, it’s transparent, competitive, and consistent with what is done in other countries,” he noted. “Any attempt to alter it for political gain will erode public trust and endanger national security.”
The former Deputy Education Minister vowed to resist any move that undermines the integrity of the Armed Forces.
“We will not sit and watch the military lose its professionalism. The Armed Forces belong to Ghana, not to any political party,” he declared.
Source: Adomonline
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