The Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has criticised, strongly, proposals by some Members of Parliament to increase the age limit for recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
His comments come after the Minister for Communication, Digital Innovation and Technology, Sam George, and the Majority Whip in Parliament, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, expressed concern over the current age restriction on military recruitment.
Both MPs suggested that the upper age limit be reviewed upward to 30 years or more, arguing that individuals within that range who are physically fit and of sound mind should not be excluded from serving.
In a post responding to their position, Rev. Ntim Fordjour described their proposal as “misconceived and misguided,” accusing them of attempting to use political influence to interfere with the professional recruitment processes of the Ghana Armed Forces.
“Hon. Sam George and Hon. Dafeamekpor’s call for unqualified overage NDC foot soldiers into the military is a misconceived and misguided populist agenda,” he wrote.
“We will resist every attempt by the NDC to load their overage foot soldiers into the Ghana Armed Forces. The Ghana Armed Forces is not a dumping ground for overage NDC foot soldiers.”
The Assin South MP further cautioned against what he described as political interference in the operations of the Armed Forces, warning that lowering entry standards for partisan reasons could compromise professionalism and discipline within the institution.
“NDC Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Leadership must be made to know that it is extremely backward and dangerous to force unqualified people into the military as a reward for party patronage. Stop the undue interference in the credible and professional recruitment process underway by the Ghana Armed Forces,” he added.
