Former Chief of Defence Staff, Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, has called for what he described as a moral reset in Ghana, warning that weakening discipline, rising materialism and the erosion of communal values are shaping a generation without firm guidance.
He said Ghana must deliberately return to principles of honesty, hard work and respect if it is to secure a stable and responsible future for its young people.
Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah made the remarks at the launch of his memoir, My Memoirs: I Don’t Follow the Crowd, held at Christ the King Catholic Church on Friday, February 20, 2026.
“I generally worry about the future,” he told the audience. “What kind of world are you going to leave to our children and grandchildren?”
He urged leaders, parents and institutions to play a more active role in mentoring the youth, stressing that national development depends not only on economic progress but also on strong moral foundations.
Reflecting on societal change, Joseph Nunoo-Mensah said the sense of love and shared humanity that once defined communities appears to be fading. He questioned whether the current generation is being equipped with the right moral compass, stressing that leadership begins at home and is reflected in everyday conduct.
Responding to questions from broadcaster Kwaku Sintim-Misa, he said young people today face intense social pressure, including the public display of wealth and the pursuit of quick recognition. He contrasted this with his upbringing in Winneba, where he undertook menial jobs — loading cocoa and working as a driver’s mate — to finance his education.
“We were taught discipline and truthfulness,” he said. “Those were non-negotiable.”
Military career and public service
A biographical profile presented at the event traced his journey from modest beginnings to the highest ranks of the Ghana Armed Forces. After enlisting in 1960, he was selected for officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, where he emerged as the best overseas cadet and won the academic sword.
He became Chief of Defence Staff in 1979 under the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council and was reappointed in 1982 under the Provisional National Defence Council, becoming the first Ghanaian officer to hold the position twice. In November 1982, he resigned on principle, maintaining that soldiers should not remain entrenched in political governance.
He later served as National Security Advisor under President John Evans Atta Mills and continued in that role under President John Dramani Mahama until 2013.
Tributes and book launch
Entrepreneur and political figure Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar, paid tribute to the retired General, describing him as a rare elder who openly supports younger leaders out of conviction rather than convenience.
He recounted how Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah publicly supported him at a defining moment in his political journey, noting that the gesture carried significant moral weight. Mr Bediako also announced that he would personally cover the cost of publishing the memoir as a mark of honour for a man he described as principled, bold and consistent.
Chairing the ceremony, Benjamin Ahlijah (rtd) described My Memoirs: I Don’t Follow the Crowd as an important national document that goes beyond personal reflection to illuminate critical moments in Ghana’s military and political history.
He said the book offers first-hand insight into periods many Ghanaians know only through fragmented accounts, including military interventions and transitions to constitutional rule. Colonel Ahlijah urged public institutions, libraries and academics to support the documentation of Ghana’s history through memoirs, warning that when eyewitnesses fail to record events, future generations inherit incomplete narratives.
He formally launched the book, encouraging Ghanaians to read it for both its historical significance and its lessons on courage, discipline and independent thought.
