Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ninety-eight (98) Officers/students of seventeen African Armed Forces, have matriculated to Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College’s (GAFCSC) prestigious Master of Science (MSc) in Defence and International Politics (MDIP), Senior Staff Course 45, to be trained for eleven months in Command and Staff responsibilities, and to be awarded “passed staff college” “psc”, upon successful graduation.
GAFCSC’s Senior Staff Course 45 Matriculation, took place at the Hamidu Hall of Ghana’s Military College, Otu Barracks, Teshie Ridge, Accra, on Thursday 28 September 2023, with Officers from Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Tanzania and Zambia.
Representing the Guest of Honour for the occasion, who is Rector, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) – Professor Samuel Kweku Bonsu; Dr Yaw Appiah-Marfo informed the students that they would be expected to be analytical, strive to acquire critical thinking skills, be able to articulate clearly and succinctly, and delve into research, using different techniques, applying them in their course works and dissertations.
He urged them to reject notions of individualism, and ask for help from Administrative Staff and Directing Staff of the College, rather than sink in excessive self-reliance, but to keep in mind that it is not automatic for all matriculants to graduate.
Dr Appiah-Marfo stated to the participants that the MDIP’s dissertation is a powerful component to the award of the degree, which would help them contribute significantly to the world of learning, by gathering empirical data or the use of databases, to deal with pertinent uses of today’s complex and ever changing world, in the area of security and defence.
GAFCSC’s Vice Dean of Academics – Dr Napoleon Kurantin, in a welcome address, said the main goal of the Military College’s matriculation exercise is to acquit students of the core values, fundamental norms and culture of the Centre of Excellence, which was established in 1963, to train Officers in Command and Staff duties.
Dignitaries present included the Commandant, GAFCSC – Major General Irvine Ayittey Aryeetey; Deputy Commandant – Brigadier General Abass Seidu; Chief Coordinator – Colonel Maxwell Mantey, Directing Staff and other staff of GAFCSC.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
