The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has denied any changes in its hierarchy and has consequently asked the public to ignore any report to that effect. It said all its senior military commanders are at post and doing their normal duties in the service of mother Ghana. A release by the GAF Public Affairs Directorate last Friday described the reports of changes in its hierarchy as false and "misperceptions of disgruntled individuals with political inclinations to pursue a hidden agenda." The statement condemned attempts to undermine its integrity, cohesion and effectiveness. It therefore requested it to be left alone to enable it to address the myriad of challenges facing the security of the nation. According to the statement, these challenges require a determined, focused and concerted effort as well as totally united professional and competent soldiers to do the job. An Accra weekly paper, ‘Ghana Palaver’ last Friday published a report alleging that there was a plan to use the country’s Armed Forces to enable President Kufuor to declare a state of emergency in order to avert the eminent defeat of the New Patriotic Party in the December polls which plans the paper said, had been fiercely assisted by Major-General S.A. Odotei, the Army Commander. According to the said report, as a result of his principled stand taken at a meeting attended by Service Commanders of GAF and President Kufuor, the Army Commander is to be retired prematurely and to be replaced by the Commander of the Northern Command, Brigadier-General Ayiku. The statement denied that there had been any such meeting between the Army’s hierarchy and its Commander-in-Chief . Source: Times