Deputy Defense Minister Brogya Genfi has publicly challenged statements made by Defence and Interior Committee ranking member Ntim Fordjour, accusing him of spreading misinformation regarding the retirement timelines of senior military generals.
In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen program monitored by Kumasimail, Deputy Minister Genfi addressed a tweet by Rev. Ntim Fordjour dated March 18, 2025, in which Fordjour claimed that most generals who have retired still had six more years left to serve in the military.
Genfi dismissed this assertion as false and misleading.
“Why should an honorable member lie like this? It is not right,” Genfi stated emphatically during the interview.
He explained that Fordjour’s calculation of “six more years” is a flawed generalization.
“Why? It is not good, and on the same basis of the six more years he calculated, if someone has not reached their retirement age but is being forced to leave, you need to account for the remaining years left in their service.”
According to Genfi, the retirement age and remaining service years vary among generals, and it is inaccurate to claim a blanket six-year extension applies to most.
When asked by the host, “You mentioned there are four generals whose retirement is not yet due, but by virtue of the appointment of the CDS, they must go home. How many years do the four have left before they retire.
Genfi clarified their ages and remaining service periods “They are between 60 and 62 years old. The remaining service period is between one and three years because the one who is 60 has three more years, the one who is 61 has two more years, and the one who is 62 has one more year. This means that if the gov’t will pay anything, it will be for the years left,” Genfi explained.
To add perspective, Genfi drew on historical precedents, reminding the public that changes in military leadership before retirement age are not new or unique to the current administration.
He stated “When President Kufuor took office in 2001, about ten generals with two-star ranks and above were asked to retire early.
“Of the 10 people who were asked to go home, some were as young as 55 years old. If you do the calculations, that person had eight more years left to serve. Also, some were 57 years old, and only two people out of the 10 were 62 years old,”Genfi recounted.
He also noted that after the 2004 elections, seven two-star generals were similarly retired early despite the government remaining the same.
“Again, after the 2004 election, in 2005, even though it was the same government, a one-star general was appointed as CDS. Seven two-star generals and their equivalents were asked to retire even though they had not reached their retirement age.”
Source : www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
