Former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has alleged that calls by some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for a review of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) enlistment age form part of President John Dramani Mahama’s plan to fulfil a campaign promise.
Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV, Boakye-Danquah claimed that the push by the Majority Chief Whip and MP for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, and the Minister for Communication, Digital Innovation and Technology, Samuel Nartey George, to extend the maximum recruitment age to 30 years is politically motivated.
“I am deeply troubled that President Mahama wants to fulfil a particular campaign promise that he gave, which is the fact that when he was campaigning to become president of the Republic of Ghana, he said, and the evidence is there, that when he wins, he will recruit children of his political party to come into the security system. He said this at Tamale Stadium,” he alleged.
Dr Boakye-Danquah rejected the proposal to raise the age limit, insisting that the current system is appropriate for maintaining the physical standards required of recruits.
“We don’t have any problem whatsoever with our current system. The reason why you have people aged either under 20 or 25 going through military training and recruitment is because they have very minimal health risk, they have very minimal exposure to other external influences, and they are very healthy,” he said.
“They are either not addicted to other social vices like drinking, smoking, or any of this, and if you pick people who are above 30, the risk is high they either have issues with low and high blood pressure, they have some addiction issue, or they have interacted too much with society,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Dafeamekpor has hinted at the possibility of legal action should the Ghana Armed Forces refuse to review the existing maximum age requirement.
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