800 soldiers asked to go home

The Ghanaian Democrat reports that barely three weeks after assuming political power, President J.A. Kufuor has revisited the Apollo 568 episode of the early 70s, but his time round, the NPP's anger is directed at no less a group than the Ghana Armed Forces.

Sources close to the top brass of the Ghana Army at the Army headquarters at Burma Camp in Accra, have revealed that Mr Kufuor has ordered the disengagement of 800 soldiers. Those affected have been asked to return their official uniforms to their commanders in their respective units by 1st April, this year.

The compulsory retirement according to military sources is to pave way for Mr Kufuor to consolidate his stranglehold on Ghana because "he did not want what happened to Dr K.A. Busia and the PP government in 1972 to happen to him".

With this mass retirement, the necessary vacancies would be created to enable the President and his NPP government to fill the vacuum created with NPP activists.

According to the Presidential order, all those who have served in the army for the last 20 years and above are expected to hand over all official military property to the authorities and retire accordingly.

Burma Camp sources told the Democrat that the most affect personnel among the ranks are Warrant Officer (WOs) who have gained a lot of experience on the job.