The Ghana Armed Forces’ Northern Command has announced plans to institute disciplinary proceedings against soldiers accused of extortion, drug abuse, misuse of military uniforms on social media and other acts of misconduct.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Northern Command, Brigadier General Franklyn Worlanyo Agbebo, warned that personnel found guilty of such offences could face severe sanctions, including dismissal from the military.
He said the command would no longer tolerate behaviour that undermined military discipline, professional standards and public confidence in the Armed Forces.
Brigadier General Agbebo gave the warning on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the 10 Mechanised Battalion Barracks during the launch of Memoirs of an Infantry Officer, Volume 1, authored by the battalion’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel James Bampoe Palmer.
He disclosed that disciplinary action would soon be taken against soldiers who used platforms such as TikTok to circulate inappropriate videos while wearing military uniforms.
“We are going to try some soldiers and punish them,” he said, indicating that personnel found culpable would be made to face the consequences of their actions.
The GOC also expressed concern about soldiers who involve themselves in private land disputes, debt recovery and other civil matters by exploiting their military status or mobilising colleagues to intimidate civilians.
He urged personnel with personal grievances to seek redress through the police and other appropriate civil authorities rather than resorting to intimidation or the use of force.
“Whatever you do and you don’t want your commander to hear it means that you are doing bad. You don’t do it. That should be a guiding principle,” he cautioned.
On extortion, Brigadier General Agbebo warned that soldiers who unlawfully demand money from civilians by abusing their positions would face serious disciplinary consequences.
He further raised concerns about drug and substance abuse within the military, describing the practice as particularly dangerous given the responsibility of soldiers to handle firearms and live ammunition.
He stressed that personnel must remain physically and mentally fit to perform their duties safely and effectively.
Brigadier General Agbebo urged officers and soldiers to uphold the dignity of the military uniform, warning that individual misconduct could undermine the reputation of the entire Ghana Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, the event also featured the launch of Memoirs of an Infantry Officer, Volume 1, which chronicles Lieutenant Colonel Palmer’s military career and experiences in international peacekeeping missions.
The memoir documents his deployments to Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, as well as his service in Liberia from December 2022 to May 2025 as a battalion adviser.
Lieutenant Colonel Palmer said the publication was intended to preserve professional knowledge and lessons from his military career for future generations.
He explained that the book captured not only his accomplishments but also the difficulties, mistakes and opportunities that shaped his development as an infantry officer.
He expressed hope that it would serve as a useful resource for young officers, military instructors, aspiring leaders, researchers and members of the public.
