Ghana Peace
The Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) has graduated 97 African Military Officers for Senior Command and Staff Course (SCSC 46), Master of Science (MSc) in Defence and International Politics (MDIP), and MSc in Security Studies (MSS), Classes of 2025.
The total graduation cohort on Friday 22 August 2025, actually summed up to
135 students, with 30 Military Officers from 15 allied African countries, 67 others from GAF graduating for the 48-week SCSC 46, whiles the rest were from Ghana’s Public and Civil Services, the Private Sector, and other security institutions.
The 97 Military Officers graduated with a Passed Staff College ‘psc’ and received MDIP as well as MSS certificates – 76 for MDIP Certificates, and 21 for MSS Certificates – whiles from the Public and Civil Services, the Private Sector, and other security institutions, 36 students received the MDIP, and 7 students received the MSS certificates.
The 15 Allied participating countries were; Benin, Botswana, la Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo and Zambia.
The Guest of Honour for the occasion was the Chairperson of the Ghana Armed Forces Council, and the Vice President of Ghana – Her Excellency (HE) Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, with support from the Deputy Defence Minister – Mr Ernest Brogya Genfi, and the Chief of the Defence Staff, GAF – Lieutenant General William Agyapong.
In her remarks, the Vice President said Ghana’s premier military college, teaches the value of relationships and networks founded on mutual respect, trust and cooperation, especially in fast-changing security environments.
She asserted that GAFCSC’s introduction of Multi-Domain Operations and Future Wars models into its curriculum is timely, given the evolving nature of contemporary security threats, as technology now shapes the trajectory of modern security operations in battle spaces.
“As we navigate the complexities of our current global dynamics, including international conflicts, alliances and partnerships, it is essential for our Officers to be trained to broaden their perspectives and enhance their critical and strategic thinking”, she stated.
In his Annual Report presentation, the Commandant, GAFCSC – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Jackson Wonje said GAFCSC has actively embraced a role as a hub for Pan-African military operations and intellectual exchange.
The Commandant said the ‘psc’ program remains the core program that drives GAFCSC’s mission in training military Officers for Command, Staff and Leadership functions in Joint, Combined and Multi-Agency operations.
Within this package, is the experiential learning component, where students tour select African countries to research on contemporary security issues, of which SCSC 46 African City Tour took the students to Liberia, Senegal, Uganda and Zimbabwe, to research on the theme “Climate Change, Environmental Security and Development”.
“The success of this year’s African City Tour underscores the importance of sustaining our military academic engagements by developing adaptable, well-informed and collaborative leaders, who can bridge the gap between theory and practical solutions to African problems”, General Wonje said.
At the graduation, the fifth edition of the College journal – The African Journal of Defence on Security and Strategy – which provides a credible and authoritative platform for scholarly research, critical analysis and policy-relevant discourse on contemporary issues in defence, security and strategic studies within Africa and globally, was outdoored morning.
GAFCSC’s postgraduate academic programs have modular courses in Foreign Policy and International Diplomacy, Multi-Domain Operations, Defence Management, Conflict and Crisis Management, and Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices, which attracts interests from military, government, and private sector everywhere.
GAFCSC – a constituent college of Ghana’s National Defence University, last year commenced a PhD program in Defence and International Politics.
To enhance the college’s capacity to support both teaching and administration, infrastructure is being upgraded, procurement of more Information Technology equipment to support digital learning, research, and academic work across all departments is being made, with smart screens and digital teaching aids already acquired, and some syndications modernized to make teaching and learning more interactive.
At the Awards:
Major (Maj) Fred Darko Ampem Konadu won HONOUR GRADUATE and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Award; Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Patrick Peprah Obuobi won 2ND BEST; Maj Jude Nii Otu Anim won 3RD BEST; Lieutenant Commander (Lt Cdr) Innocent Adzayawo won Chief of the Naval Staff award; and Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) Victor Okanta Asiedu won the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Award;
Sqn Ldr Tarilado Collins Ogoina won BEST ALLIED STUDENT; Lt Cdr Dimitri Arnold Koulagnan won MOST IMPROVED STUDENT; Lt Col Siwemba Patrick Chibbonta won THE EVERARD; Maj Patience Naa Ayorkor Badger was 1ST in the COMMANDANT’S RESEARCH PAPER, while Lt Cdr Evans Kwame Adzakloe, and Sqn Ldr Christiana Barbara Jones-Mensah won 2ND and 3RD place, respectively.
For the MDIP/MSS Class of 25 Awards, Mr Peter Acheampong Nkrumah Nimako won the OVERALL BEST STUDENT; and Mr Peter Yandan Ali won BEST DISSERTATION.
Other dignitaries present at the occasion included the COAS, Ghana Army – Major General Lawrence Gbetanu; CAS – Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Eric Agyen Frempong; President, National Defence University – AVM Felix Adom Asante; Deputy Commandant, GAFCSC – Brig Gen George Sam; Assistant Commandant – Brig Gen Roland Bessa Kwao-Adotey, amongst many.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
