Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Commandant, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) – Major General (Maj Gen) Matthew Kweku Essien paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament at Parliament House in Accra.
Maj Gen Essien stated that the purpose of the visit on Tuesday 25 June 2024 was to formally invite the Speaker – Right Honourable Alban Bagbin and Members of Parliament (MP) to the College’s maiden Republican Day Public lecture scheduled for Monday 1 July 2024 from 2:30 to 5:30pm.
He mentioned that it would be appropriate for the House to participate in the public lecture which is on the topic “Reflections on the Democratic Control Over the Military : A Way Forward for Sustainability”.
The Principal Speaker for the lecture is Mr Francis Poku Esq – former Minister for National Security, with Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah – Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commissioner in Liberia, and Professor Kwasi Aning – a Security Expert, as Reviewers.
Ministers of State, Members of the Judiciary, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Academia, Civil Society Organizations, Serving and Retired Military Personnel, Heads of Sister Security Services, the Media and the general public have been invited for the public lecture.
He added that the Lecture which has been instituted as an annual event on the College’s academic calendar, is being organized in partnership with the OneGhana Movement – a thought leadership and social action organization.
General Essien used the opportunity of the visit to brief the Speaker about both the military and academic programmes the College runs, and was proud to inform the Speaker that MPs have been patronizing GAFCSC’S Post-graduate programmes.
He informed the house that the College will start a PhD programme in Defence and International Politics in September 2024.
On behalf of the Speaker, the 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Fomena – Honorable Andrew Asiamah Amoako, who received the delegation on behalf of the Speaker, welcomed and expressed his gratitude to Commandant and his delegation, which was made up of Air Commodore Nii Fio Okai – Assistant Commandant: Colonel (Col) Maxwell Mantey – Chief Coordinator, and Col Dominic Buah, Chief Instructor for the courtesy call.
Hon Andrew Asiamah Amoako applauded the College for coming up with this good initiative that touches on democracy. He was of the view that the public lecture will help change the perception that Ghanaians have about the military. He commended the GAF for adhering to the tenets of the 1992 Constitution, and assured the delegation that Parliamentarians would honour the invitation for the Public lecture.
Tracing Ghana’s democratic history since independence, Hon Asiama indicated that the topic for the lecture was most appropriate and gives an indication of the determination of the Ghana Armed Forces to safeguard the country’s democracy.
Credit: GAFCSC ADMIN
