Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Commander-In-Chief (C-In-C), Ghana Armed Force and President, Republic of Ghana – His Excellency (HE) John Dramani Mahama, has made a number of commitments to the nation’s military, to equip it to standards required for a 21st century defence force.
The C-In-C made the obligations as the Reviewing Officer (RO) at his maiden graduation review of the Ghana Military Academy’s (GMA) Regular Career Course (RCC) 63, where one hundred and sixty-three (163) Young Officers graduated into GAF, on Friday 11 April 2025, at the Whistler Barracks, Kpeshie Ridge, Accra.
The GMA ceremony saw 110 Army, 28 Navy and 25 Air Force Officer-Cadets (138 males, 25 females) graduate into various corps of GAF, after 18 months of training, after 5 were released leaving 163 – of whom 2 are pursuing further studies in Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, United Kingdom, and 2 others in Germany.
As President, he called on the citizens of Ghana to recognize the nature of contemporary threats that confront countries, which demand that citizens do not perceive their security services as the exclusive institutions responsible for their safety and security, without the complementary roles of individuals and organizations, together with the government.
The C-In-C, who was clad in the ceremonial uniform of the Ghana Navy, in identifying with the military’s stance and successes, called on GAF to continue to maintain its support for Ghana’s 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution and the State, and the maintenance of the democratic system of government, even in the rise of coup d’etats across the West African sub-region.
As concerns Bawku, in the northeastern part of Ghana – a major flashpoint where conflicts have reportedly claimed over 300 lives in recent times – President Mahama called for the cooperation of all concerned to embrace and restore peace in that environment, as dialogue to resolve the age-old dispute continues.
“We have triggered the Otumfuo Mediation Process which saw all stakeholders participate in discussions in Kumasi on a roadmap towards peace”, HE Mahama said.
With a policy of aggressively pursuing the ideals of operational and combat readiness of GAF, the C-In-C outlined the following:
1) Commitment to supporting the National Defence University (NDU) to realize its full potential;
2) Provide GMA with needed facilities as one of the constituent colleges of the NDU; to actualize the upgrading of the Commissioning Course to a Postgraduate Diploma status for newly-commissioned Officers; and to run strategic academic courses to support government’s efforts for strategic higher education for qualified Ghanaians, civilians, and the military.
3) As part of the Phase II and III of GMA’s expansion, government to construct a sports complex with modern gymnasium, a swimming pool, and an outer perimeter road to facilitate training in the academy.
4) Assess GAF’s retooling initiative and facilitate cost-effective outcomes.
5) Provide better equipment, including more simulators, advanced training, and the ability to mobilize swiftly in times of need.
6) Streamline peacekeeping operations in line with United Nations (UN) requirements, to yield the rewards that reflect Ghana’s contribution on the global stage, and maximize Ghana’s national interest, and well-being of the troops.
7) Ensure the practice of fairness and integrity as core in enforcing transparency in the selection process for peacekeeping duties, for the most qualified Officers and Soldiers to be given opportunities to serve.
8) Ensure that merit-based promotions hinge on competence and not ‘connections’, as the norm and not the exception.
9) Expand opportunities for Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), to access Officer Cadet training, affording all Soldiers to have a fair chance to rise optimally through their ranks, when they merit it.
10) To ensure that retirement benefits are paid promptly to retired personnel.
11) Upgrade medical health facilities.
12) Complete and equip the Afari Military Hospital in the Central Command.
13) Government has budgeted for a Military Field Hospital in Tamale.
14) GAF’s Defence Industries Holding Company (DIHOC) – which is its commercial wing – to be further revamped in production lines for clothing for all security personnel uniforms, and produce boots and accessories for GAF and other security services.
15) DIHOC to be one of the key players in providing sustainable financing for GAF.
16) GAF’s Engineer Corps to be licensed to participate in commercial ventures for the Ghana government, and be paid; expanding and equipping the Engineer Corps to undertake national emergency projects.
Present at the event included Ghana’s Minister for Defence – Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), GAF – Major General (Maj Gen) William Agyapong; Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) – Maj Gen Lawrence Gbetanu; Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) – Rear Admiral Godwin Bessing; Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) – Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Eric Agyen-Frempong; and Chief of Staff, General Headquarters – AVM Joshua Mensah-Larkai, amongst many.
At the awards; SWORD OF HONOUR, COAS, LEADERSHIP Awards – Senior Under Officer (SUO) Mustapha Salim Danabja; MILITARY CANE, CAS, FALCON Awards – Junior Under Officer (JUO) Nakobu Mohammed Abdul-Hamid; ACADEMIC CANE – JUO Kwarteng Michael Owusu; SEXTANT Award – JUO Lokko Freda Kakra; KING NEPTUNE Award – Cadet Quartermaster Sergeant (Sgt) Norgbey Seraphine Miriam;
FLEET Award – Naval Cadet (N/Cdt) Appau Kwasi Ankobiah; BEST IN TACTICS – Cdt Quartermaster Sgt Ntori Isaac Owusu; BEST IN DRILLS – Senior (Snr) Cdt Ewuakye Enoch Asiedu; BEST SHOT Award – Snr Cdt Tetteh Lordshed; BEST IN PT (Male) – Snr Cdt Nkrumah Addison; BEST IN PT (Female) – Snr Cdt Bagnae Matilda Naakpansun;
CDS ESSAY Award 1 – Snr Cdt French Paulina; CDS ESSAY Award 2 – Cdt Sgt Bosompim Laurette; CDS ESSAY Award 3 – Snr Cdt Michael Osei-Asibey Jnr; COMMANDANT’S COMPANY – Abyssinia Company.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
