Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Commandant, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) – Major General (Maj Gen) Mathew Kweku Essien led a delegation to call on the Management of the Retired Commissioned Officers Association (RCOA) at the premise of the RCOA Club House, Ridge.
The Commandant in his remarks on Thursday 27 June 2024, expressed his gratitude to the President and Members of the Association for their continuous guidance and support, and reiterated that the Association served as the repository of knowledge, wisdom and pedestal on which the traditions, customs and norms of the GAF were upheld.
Maj Gen MK Essien further intimated that it was a great honour for him to be in the midst of revered Officers who had offered their youth and equally made sacrifices to project the Armed Forces to the status it finds itself.
He also brought to the attention of the RCOA, the series of new academic programmes ongoing at the College, which included an additional Master of Science programme, and a doctorate degree.
The Commandant also indicated that in the world of continuous dynamic security threats and changes in the nature of war, there was the need to position the Armed Forces to effectively discharge its duties, hence the introduction of additional modules such as the Multi-Domain Operations module in the curriculum at the College.
Additionally, he mentioned that the College had engaged foreign training partners from the United States of America, and the United Kingdom to assist in training Directing Staff for GAFCSC.
Maj Gen Essien seized the opportunity to invite the members of the Association to the maiden Republic Day Public Lecture slated for Monday 1 July 2024 at the Staff College, indicating that the theme for the Lecture was “Reflection of the Democratic Control Over the Military and the Way Forward for Sustainability”.
In his invitation remarks, the Commandant made it clear that the lecture seeks to provide an in-depth understanding to middle-level Commanders on their role in governance and security, within the ambit of a democratic dispensation.
In that regard, the panelists comprise experts in security and governance, and will be led by Mr Francis Poku Esq; a former Minister for National Security with Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah and Professor Kwasi Aning as members. He was quick to add that the presence of the members of the RCOA was essential in that it would provide the impetus and offer practical context to the participants.
The President of RCOA – Brigadier General Samuel Yanyi-Akofur (Retired) was elated to have received the Commandant together with his delegation, and congratulated him on his promotion and appointment.
He indicated that members of the Association will be honoured to grace the Seminar and contribute their quota to training the new generation of Officers on whose shoulders the future of the Armed Forces rest, opining that the topic was of valuable importance and was essential in helping create the needed relationship for national development.
The President further expressed and assured the Commandant and his entourage the readiness of RCOA to assist the College with its rich human resource base to help shape products from the College. Brigadier General Yanyi-Akofur (Retired) indicated that it behooved on the Association as well, to train officers and imbibe in them the values and traditions of the Armed Forces. He further recommended that the Commandant together with the College leadership do their best to lift or maintain the reputation of the College as a world class institution.
Maj Gen Mathew Essien on behalf of the delegation thanked the President and members of the Association for their willingness to avail themselves and contribute to efforts of the College in producing effective officers. Thus, the Commandant added that the College will continue to call on the RCOA to handle lectures, facilitate Directing Staff Manship retreats and introduce lectures that revolve around interactions with veterans.
Credit: GAFCSC ADMIN
