President Nana Akufo-Addo has revealed the Military
High Command will begin the implementation of the new law that will increase
the work period in the Ghana Armed Forces by five years later in 2019.
Plans for this review have been on the lips of the
New Patriotic Party (NPP) since 2016, when it was in opposition.
The NPP has held that if a civil servant is allowed to retire at 60 years “you don’t ask somebody in the army to retire at 45 years if he enters at 20 years and then he goes home and has nothing to do.”
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Currently, the recruits retire after 25 years of
service. Following the review, they would now be required to exit the Force
after 30 years.
President Nana Addo reiterated this assurance in a
durbar of officers, men and women of the Armed Forces which marked the fulfilment
of the government’s promise to supply over 130 vehicles for the Ghana Armed
Forces to facilitate their transportation needs.
“The effect of this policy is that troops can continue to serve for a maximum of 30 years as opposed to the previous set duration of 25 years. However, one is permitted to apply to leave at any time through the laid down procedure.”
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The President presented 140 vehicles, comprising 50
Ankai buses, 40 Toyota Land cruisers, hard body Vehicles and 50 Toyota Hilux
Pickups, to the Ghana Armed Forces and also commissioned the newly constructed
Command Officers’ Mess.
The President also assured that the Government will
provide the army with the necessary resources to carry out their roles
effectively.