The Friends of Oppong Peprah, a group of associates believed to be close to former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General (Rtd.) Thomas Oppong Peprah, have urged him to decline his recent appointment as Deputy High Commissioner to Canada, describing the role as “demeaning” and “inconsistent with the honour due a former military chief.”
In a statement issued on October 8, 2025, the group said while it acknowledges the government’s prerogative to assign diplomatic roles, this particular posting marks a “departure from precedent” and a “profound act of disrespect” to both General Oppong Peprah and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
According to the group, past Chiefs of Defence Staff have traditionally been appointed to substantive ambassadorial positions in recognition of their service and the prestige of the military institution they represented.
“The appointment of General Oppong Peprah as a deputy rather than a substantive High Commissioner diminishes the dignity and symbolic honour of the uniform he wore with distinction,” the statement said.
They further described the appointment as “a personal embarrassment” to the retired general, arguing that it sends “an unfortunate signal to serving officers, that no matter how meritoriously one serves, loyalty and dedication can be reduced to token gestures.”
The Friends of Oppong Peprah appealed to the former CDS to respectfully reject the appointment to preserve both his personal integrity and the dignity of the Armed Forces.
They added that if financial or welfare concerns were among the motivations for accepting the post, the group is willing to mobilize support to ensure General Oppong Peprah “retires in honour, as befits his distinguished service to the nation.”
