Military ranks full of NDC sympathisers – Kennedy Agyapong alleges

Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has alleged that top officials in Ghana’s military are mainly sympathizers of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Corruption he says is at its peak in the army for this reason, and the same accounts for refusal to recruit any persons who are not on ‘their team’.

Speaking on Oman FM’s ‘Boiling Point' show Tuesday, Mr. Agyapong bit hard at PRO of the armed forces, Colonel Aggrey Quarshie over suggestions of his that politicians like himself (Kennedy Agyapong) believe they can buy their way into the army with their position and influence.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Armed Forces, Colonel Aggrey Quashie stated on Kumasi based Ultimate FM that the recruitment exercise into the military is by merit and not by any political influence.

“Enlistment of applicants into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is always based on merits, not political influence or any other means,” Colonel Aggrey Quashie said.

“People think that if I pay money to somebody I can get myself in there. If all your documentation is correct you stand an equal chance like any other person to be picked” he added.

This was after Mr. Agyepong’s previous comments that he is looking forward to getting special military protocol slots for his people otherwise he will make noise.

According to him, he was pushing for his people during the recent police recruitment exercise and noted that he will be more successful in the ongoing military recruitment exercise.

“Today, I am looking for Police slots, I got some… Eeeii Kennedy Agyapong!” he flattered himself over the feat. “Now I am looking for military, it has not come yet, but it will come, otherwise I will make noise.”

Kennedy Agyapong on Tuesday’s show on Oman FM said; “Go and check all the ranks in the military apart from the army commander, go and check, so when you try all directions, it bounces back but it’s nothing, but for you to respond to a simple statement that I’ve had a lot of jobs under the Akufo-Addo’s era except for the military, you are a foolish colonel. I’m telling him that he is a fool, come and arrest me and you’ll see what will happen, you’ll forget you are a soldier.”

He ‘bashed’ Colonel Quarshie for what he termed unwarranted comments to his ‘harmless’ statement on military recruitments.

“Are you my mate? If my people are not recruited in the military so what? Do you know how many people I have employed in Ghana? If he likes let him retire and come to me, I’ll give him a job to do” he said.

“What work does he have to do if he leaves the military now? He can only be a security guard, useless. He is a fool,….if he knew what was going on in the military, he wouldn’t be going around speaking.