Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana’s National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) had held its maiden Matriculation for a select cohort of Nineteen (19) Senior Officers, for a Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Studies, for the nation’s pursuit of excellence in Professional Military Education (PME), and the preparation of its Senior Civil Servants for strategic leadership.
The significant milestone ceremony took place on Friday 16 February 2024, at the Burma Hall, Burma Camp, Accra, with the Chief of Staff (CoS) at Ghana’s Presidency – Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, as the Guest of Honour, supported by the Minister for Defence and his Deputy – Mr Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul, and Mr Kofi Amankwa-Manu, respectively, and the Military High Command (MHC) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
The 41-week course themed: “Environment, Security, and Development”, which was inaugurated on Thursday 30 November, 2023, will culminate in the award of a Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Studies, and the conferment of Fellow of the NCDS on the graduates.
The establishment of Ghana’s topmost Military College, was initiated by a policy statement made during the 2022 West Africa Soldiers Social Activities (WASSA) of GAF General Headquarters by the Commander-In-Chief, directing the Ministry of Defence, and the MHC, to establish a National Defence University (NDU) and the NCDS.
Consequently, the MHC initiated the process for the grant of a Presidential Charter for the establishment of the NDU, which, the Guest of Honour hinted, is at an advanced stage.
The NCDS, which has been granted institutional and program accreditations by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), is being mentored by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and once the NDU is granted its Presidential Charter, the NCDS, the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), and the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), will all operate as Colleges under the NDU.
Historically, only a select few Senior Officers of GAF have had the privilege of undergoing strategic-level training abroad, due to the cost of training and limited vacancies, thereby restricting the number of Officers adequately prepared for strategic-level roles.
In her address, the CoS said the establishment of the Defence College is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Government, to ensure that the military and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), are equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex challenges of the contemporary security landscape.
The Coordinator of all Ghana’s MDAs said, threats posed by violent extremist and terrorists (VET) groups in the West African sub-region, demand the equipping of the right institutions with necessary tools and insights, to address challenges head-on.
Referring to Ghana’s National Security Strategy document, she said Ghana recognizes several security challenges, including climate change, youth unemployment, poverty, illegal mining, and vigilantism, and to tackle these security challenges, the document emphasizes the crucial role of enhanced regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and capacity building.
She continued to say that the document also highlights the significance of strengthening border security, improving governance structures, and promoting social and economic development, to address the root causes of these challenges.
Madam Osei-Opare thus challenged the participants to, at the end of the Course, propose a path towards the harmonious coexistence of natural resources, the well-being of the people, and the progress of the nation.
The Commandant, NCDS – Major General (Maj Gen) Irvine Nii-Ayittey Aryeetey, in his welcome speech, said the ceremony is the commencement of a journey aimed at nurturing and equipping future leaders of GAF, and Senior Civil Servants, with the requisite knowledge, skills, and values required to operate efficiently at the strategic level of leadership and management.
General Aryeetey said the overarching objective is to imbibe in participants, critical thinking skills that would shape their approach to providing advice to leadership, and also guide them in their future strategic decision making as leaders, by thinking innovatively and outside the box.
He expressed confidence that with the work being inputted from the onset, and with the required resources, in no time the College would turn into a place of excellence that would compete with any Defence College, and similar institutions anywhere in the world.
The 19 participants of the NCDS Course 1-23 are made up of 12 Army Senior Officers, 3 Naval Senior Officers, 2 Air Force Senior Officers, and one Senior Civil Servant each from Ghana’s Ministry of Defence and Ministry of National Security.
The NCDS envisions producing graduates imbued with leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that are required to address Ghana and Africa’s complex security challenges.
It has objectives of building the capacity of selected Senior Officers and Civil Servants to conduct scientific research in Military Science, Defence Studies, Strategic Studies, International Relations, and related subjects.
Personages present included the Chief of the Defence Staff of GAF – Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong-Peprah; Chief of the Army Staff – Maj Gen Bismarck Kwasi Onwona; Chief of the Naval Staff – Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu; Chief of the Air Staff’s Representative – Air Commodore Eric Agyen-Frempon; CoS, General Headquarters – Maj Gen Joseph Prince Osei-Owusu; Commandant, TRADOC – Rear Admiral Eric Adu; Rector, GIMPA – Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsum, amongst many.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
