Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has resumed its General Releases of Soldiers who have completed their authorized thirty (30) years of service, in accordance with GAF Regulations, after Other Ranks (OR) releases were suspended in 2020, with the dawn of Constitutional Instrument (CI) 129, which extended their careers for 5 additional years.
A Press Release on Wednesday 30 April 2025, by Captain (Ghana Navy) Veronica Adzo Arhin – Acting Director General, Public Relations, GAF, states that the first batch of General Releases after the 5-year suspension will be in May 2025, affecting personnel of the 1995 and 1996 year groups, who would have fully attained the compulsory retirement age, per Ghana Armed Forces Regulations, with subsequent year groups to follow, upon completion of their service.
Speaking to Peace Journal with clarification, a legal expert in military affairs said, per the publication, nothing new has been introduced, but the simple fulfilment of the 5 years extension period granted by the CI, and that the resumption would deal with the pile, as it obtains now.
Prior to the coming into effect of CI 129, service in Ghana’s military regularly lasted for 25 years, however, after its promulgation, the service period was extended with 5 automatic years.
For this reason, Soldiers who were supposed to have gone on retirement in 2020, after being recruited in 1995/1996, were offered 5 years extension, hence those are whom the Announcement refers to.
Ghana Armed Forces operates different releases for its Officers and Soldiers (ORs), which also involves different Compulsory Release Ages for Officers and ORs.
For Officers, a few examples are that; 2-Star General (Major General, Rear Admiral, Air Vice Marshal) goes home at 63; 1-Star General (Brigadier General, Commodore, Air Commodore) retires at 60; Colonel/Naval Captain/Group Captain grounds arms at 57. If one attains that age, it does not matter when one obtained the rank, he/she has to go home.
For Soldiers, one who was recruited at age 26 or 27 years, cannot be in service for 30 years because they would be 57 years before they retire, which is not allowed – 55 is the stipulated age for retirement – thus it is either one serves for 30 years or hits 55 and goes to the rear.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
Source:Peace Journal
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