The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Ghana Armed Forces’ Northern Command, Brigadier General Franklyn Worlanyo Agbebo, has warned that military personnel who engage in misconduct, including inappropriate social media activities, extortion and drug abuse, could face dismissal.
He said the command would initiate disciplinary proceedings against soldiers whose actions violate military standards and undermine public confidence in the armed forces.
Speaking at the 10 Mechanised Battalion Barracks on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Brigadier General Agbebo expressed concern about soldiers who use platforms such as TikTok to share inappropriate videos while wearing military uniforms.
“We are going to try some soldiers and punish them,” he warned, indicating that action would soon be taken against personnel found culpable.
The GOC also cautioned soldiers against using their positions to interfere in land disputes, recover debts or settle personal disagreements, particularly when such activities involve intimidating civilians.
He advised personnel with personal grievances to seek assistance from the police and other appropriate civil authorities rather than resorting to force or exploiting their military status.
“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 said.
Brigadier General Agbebo further condemned extortion and impersonation, warning that soldiers who unlawfully demand or collect money from civilians by abusing their authority would face serious consequences.
He also highlighted the dangers of drug and substance abuse within the military, stressing that impaired judgment could pose serious risks in a profession that involves handling weapons and live ammunition.
According to him, the command would not tolerate substance abuse that compromises the safety and operational effectiveness of personnel.
He urged officers and soldiers to uphold the dignity of the military uniform, noting that the actions of individual personnel could undermine the reputation of the entire Ghana Armed Forces.
The warning was delivered during the launch of Memoirs of an Infantry Officer, Volume 1, authored by the Commanding Officer of the 10 Mechanised Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel James Bampoe Palmer.
The book chronicles his military career, including international peacekeeping deployments and leadership assignments in Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.
It also documents his service in Liberia from December 2022 to May 2025, where he worked as a battalion adviser.
Lieutenant Colonel Palmer said the publication seeks to preserve professional experiences and lessons that could guide future generations of military personnel.
He explained that the memoir captures not only his accomplishments but also the challenges, mistakes and opportunities that shaped his growth as an infantry officer.
He expressed hope that the book would be useful to young officers, aspiring military leaders, instructors, researchers and members of the public.
