The newly appointed Minister of Defence, Honourable Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has met with the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, and the Service Chiefs to discuss collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening national security.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in Accra on Monday, February 3, provided an opportunity for the military leadership to officially extend their congratulations to the minister and reaffirm their commitment to working with him.
General Oppong-Peprah, speaking on behalf of Officers, Soldiers, and Defence Civilian Staff, congratulated Dr. Omane Boamah on his appointment and expressed his best wishes. He assured the minister of his unwavering support, emphasizing the Ghana Armed Forces’ (GAF) readiness to safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity across land, sea, and air.
Dr. Omane Boamah, in response, expressed appreciation for the visit and reiterated his commitment to addressing key challenges facing the GAF.
He acknowledged concerns related to troop accommodation and logistics procurement, promising to prioritize solutions in those areas. The minister also commended the military leadership for their continuous efforts in maintaining national stability and preventing violent extremism and terrorism.
The engagement was attended by senior officials, including the Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Lawoetey Tettey, the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Joseph Prince Osei Owusu, and Principal General Staff Officer at MOD, Air Commodore Edward Kwasi Gyamfi.
The Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah has confirmed to the Financial and Economic Division of the High Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe that the Minister for Defence has the right to release to a public officer documents relating to a staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The CDS in his answers to questions posed by Mr Jakpa’s lawyer who had subpoenaed him, noted that the Armed Forces is made up of the Military Division and the Civilian Division. The CDS stated that he is in charge of the military wing of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence is in charge of the administrative or civilian wing of the GAF.
He further stated that both his office and that of the Chief Director are answerable to the Minister of Defence.
They both answer to the Minister for Defence who is their boss.
To this end, the Minister of Defence can release a document to another public officer such as the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General and the Minister for Defence would not necessarily have to consult the office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) before doing so.
Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah is the CDS
Mr Jakpa and his lawyers led by Thaddeus Sory, had subpoenaed the army chief to testify in support of Mr Jakpa’s case and to prove, among others, that the document tendered in evidence by the Attorney-General, was not properly obtained from the office of the Chief of Defence Staff.
After the lawyer for Richard Jakpa led the witness to give his evidence in chief, the lawyer for Cassiel Ato Forson, Dr Abdul Bassit Bamba took his turn to cross-examine the CDS.
When he concluded his cross-examination, the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame cross-examined the CDS, Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah.
Attorney-General who is with the Prosecution questions the witness
The following transpired between Mr. Dame and the Chief of Defence Staff:
Question: Please look at exhibit BF3 (final release letter of Jakpa), you see that it is copied to MOD.
Answer: Yes, My Lady.
Question: What is MOD?
Answer: Ministry of Defence.
Question: The Ministry of Defence has records of all military officers in Ghana?
Answer: Yes
Question: The Minister for Defence, you stated earlier on, is the supervisory ministry of the Ghana Armed Forces, is that correct?
Answer: Yes
Question: And the Minister for Defence is the head of the Ministry of Defence.
Answer: Yes
Question: And indeed, you answer to the Minister for Defence.
Answer: Yes
Question: Does the Minister consult you before releasing a document to another public officer?
Answer: He exercises the right to copy me or not.
Question: And that is what normally occurs.
Answer: I won’t say it is normal but he can do that.
Question: Will you consider it to be a breach of rule or procedure if the Minister releases a document to the AG?
Answer: No, please.
The CDS further told the court that Richard Jakpa, the third accused person in the case of the Republic versus Cassiel Ato Forson and two others, was a bad example in the Ghana Armed Forces by all standards.
A major bone of contention among the parties in the case bordered on Mr Richard Jakpa’s release document from the Ghana Armed Forces where he once served as an officer.
The release document tendered into evidence by the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, indicated that Mr Jakpa was dishonourably released from the military as a result of gross indiscipline and misconduct. Mr Jakpa however contended when giving evidence, that he was not released from the military on grounds of misconduct but he was released honourably.
On whether or not Mr Jakpa was released honourably or dishonourably from the military, Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney General posed several questions to the Chief of Defence Staff to bring clarity to the claims of Mr Richard Jakpa and his lawyers.
Question: From all the factors and circumstances regarding his release would you say Mr Jakpa was honourably released?
Answer: As per the documents on record I would say he was not honourably released.
Question: You will note that he was not placed on the retired list.
Answer: Yes
Question: And he is also not permitted to use his rank in civil life.
Answer: Yes
Question: If he was honourably released, he would have been entitled to these things?
Answer: Yes
Question: Prior to his release, there were several interviews?
Answer: From the record, yes.
Question: And there was a special report prepared on Mr. Jakpa?
Answer: Per the records, yes
Question: The report is dated May 2004
Answer: Yes
Question: And this was three years before he was released from the Armed Forces?
Answer: From the record, yes.
Question: The report says his conduct was not only unacceptable but smacks of indiscipline?
Answer: From the record, yes
Question: It is correct to say the GAF did not require the continued service of Mr Jakpa?
Answer: From the records, yes
Question: Do you know Mr Jakpa personally?
Answer: Yes
Question: He worked under you?
Answer: Yes, briefly for about three months.
The Attorney-General also asked the witness, Ltd. General Oppong-Peprah, to confirm a few statements contained in the Minister for Defence’s letter to the Attorney-General.
The witness confirmed that the statement by the Minister for Defence that Jakpa had failed his examinations on seven consecutive attempts had already been captured in a report by Jakpa’s superiors in the Military on Jakpa dated October, 2007.
The Chief of Defence Staff also confirmed in answer to questions by the Attorney-General, that Mr. Jakpa had been tried summary by an Appropriate Superior Authority (ASA) and severely reprimanded before he was released from the Armed Forces.
Following the conclusion of cross-examination of the CDS by the Attorney General, Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe adjourned the sitting to Tuesday, 30 July 2024, for Mr Richard Jakpa to call his next witness.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, has refuted claims that he provided the dismissal letter of Richard Jakpa, the third defendant in the ongoing ambulance trial, to the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul.
General Oppong-Peprah explained that no such request for the letter had been made to him, and therefore, he could not account for how the Minister came to possess the document.
In the courtroom, Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, during his cross-examination of Jakpa on Thursday, June 27, presented a letter allegedly detailing Jakpa’s dismissal from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in 2007.
The letter, introduced as evidence, purportedly came from the Defence Minister’s office and cited misconduct and violations of military protocols as reasons for Jakpa’s dismissal.
Jakpa’s legal team contested the letter’s relevance and sought to exclude it from evidence.
Despite their objections, the presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, admitted the letter, noting that it had been acknowledged by the witness and was valid for establishing the document’s authenticity.
On Monday, during further proceedings, the Chief of Defence Staff reiterated that he had not issued the dismissal letter to the Defence Minister.
“My lady, as the Chief of Defense Staff, I have never received any request to release any document to anybody. So I can’t answer to that,” he said.
The Chief of Defense Staff, Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, and the Military Secretary are scheduled to testify later this week in the ongoing ambulance trial.
These military leaders will address documents submitted by the prosecution, which allege that Richard Jakpa was dismissed from the military in 2007 due to unsatisfactory performance and failure to pass promotional exams.
Lawyers for Richard Jakpa argue that these documents aim to discredit their client, who testified in his defense in the criminal trial involving Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
As a result, Jakpa’s lawyers have issued subpoenas to ensure the military officials’ attendance.
Dr. Ato Forson, Richard Jakpa, and the Chief of the Ministry of Health are on trial for allegedly causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges.
Court documents reveal that the ambulances are actually ordinary buses that lack the necessary equipment to function as proper ambulances.
Since 2021, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has documented approximately 1,300 cases of mental health disorders each year.
This reflects post-COVID-19 data showing a significant increase in reported cases.
Alcohol use disorder is identified as the most prevalent issue, affecting 70 percent of male officers.
Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, disclosed these concerning figures and directed the GAF’s Department of Medical Services to launch a robust campaign to mitigate mental health challenges among its personnel.
“Mental health cases in the Ghana Armed Forces have risen since 2017, culminating in 614 recorded cases by the end of 2019 for both males and females. Post-COVID-19 statistics show a significant increase, with an average of about 1,300 cases each year from 2021 to 2023, with 70 percent being males,” Maj. Gen. Oppong-Peprah stated.
He expressed particular alarm over the prevalence of alcohol use disorder, addressing a conference marking the conclusion of the inaugural GAF Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week in Accra.
Maj. Gen. Oppong-Peprah emphasized that stigma surrounding mental health exacerbates these challenges, contributing to suicidal tendencies among affected personnel.
Globally, men are more than twice as likely to die by suicide compared to women, as reported by the World Health Organization.
Despite the high suicide rate among men, reported cases of depression—a significant precursor to suicide—are lower among males, a phenomenon linked to societal gender norms.
“A lot of responsibilities placed on men result in excessive pressure,” Maj. Gen. Oppong-Peprah noted.
He urged GAF personnel to foster mutual support, open communication, and emotional expression to combat stigma and promote mental well-being.
“Let us all strive to avoid substance abuse, excessive alcohol, gambling, and unnecessary spending, and organize our finances to live healthier lives going forward,” the CDS advised.
Anita Paddy, a senior clinical health psychologist at the Therapy and Wellness Department of the 37 Military Hospital, underscored that globally, one in four individuals experiences some form of mental health issue at some point in their lives.
She emphasized the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle, including balanced nutrition and adequate rest, to maintain mental health.
Paddy also highlighted the significance of hobbies and recreational activities in fostering positive mental well-being, urging personnel to openly discuss their feelings with peers or seek professional guidance to prevent adverse outcomes.
In a collective farewell ceremony, Ghana’s security institutions gathered to honor Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, set to retire on February 1, 2024, after a distinguished 40-year career that culminated in his role as the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS).
Held at the police headquarters on January 30, 2024, the event showcased a unified effort involving not only the Ghana Police Service but also key agencies like the Ghana Fire Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and Ghana Customs Service.
Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, took center stage, offering commendations for Vice Admiral Seth Amoama’s significant contributions to the advancement of the Ghana Armed Forces and sister security services.
Dampare emphasized the joint achievements that fortified Ghana’s security landscape, expressing gratitude for the camaraderie and support provided by the outgoing CDS.
During the ceremony, a farewell citation was presented to Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, accompanied by messages of solidarity from heads of various security service organizations.
Expressing gratitude for his four-decade journey in the service of Ghana, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama thanked the Almighty for his experiences.
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed Major General Thomas Oppong Peprah as the new CDS, effective February 1, 2024.
