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General News of Sunday, 31 May 2020

Source: GNA

'Chief of Army Staff is a gift from President Akufo-Addo to the Army’ - Junior officers

Major-General Thomas Oppong Peprah Major-General Thomas Oppong Peprah

The current Chief of Army Staff has been a great asset to the army since he was appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the position in February.

“Major-General Thomas Oppong Peprah, has in the short space of his appointment, built excellent rapport among staff and gotten the welfare of soldiers massively improved.

“Just last year, if you realize, there used to be stories in the media about disquiet among soldiers, especially the junior ranks about their conditions of service, but suddenly these disquiet occurrences have disappeared. This is because the new Chief of Army Staff has been achieving results; he is a fine gift from President Akufo-Addo,” a Junior Staff who preferred anonymity told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.

Although most of them that spoke to Ghana News Agency that wanted to find out how they were coping with their new Boss praised the Chief of Army staff for his innovations, none of them wanted to be mentioned, explaining that Junior Officers could not grant interviews to the Media.

According to one of them, even though all their goals were not yet achieved, the new Chief of Army Staff was busily pursuing them.

“One thing that used to worry junior ranks in the army a lot was slow promotions, compared to the Air force, Navy and other sister branches; the new Army Chief of Staff started tackling the problems immediately he took office and soldiers are seeing that he is working on these issues,” Another Army staff said.

Major General Oppong Peprah succeeded Major General William Ayamdo, after Ayamdo had retired in January.

Prior to replacing Ayamdo, he was the Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters.

According to them, “Ever since he came, he has built rapport among staff and a creeping trend of tribalism that was developing in the army was stamped out by Major General Oppong Peprah.

“I think the army is on course again after so many years of subtle politicization and tribalism,” Another Officer told the GNA.

According to sources, the Chief of Army Staff’s uncompromising stance on things that divided the army, had unfortunately also earned him enemies and detractors as they felt that by fighting things like tribalism, they would lose.