Kofi Ampeah Woode
A team of twenty-four (24) persons from the Kenyan Joint Command and Staff College (KJCSC), led by its Commandant – Major General Eric Kinuthia, has paid a day’s study tour to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), to seek the perspectives of West Africa’s Training Centre of Excellence’s (TCE) views on “The Impact of Gender on Military Leadership”.
The Kenyan team which arrived in Ghana on 11 March 2024, visited the KAIPTC on Tuesday 12 March 2024, and were engaged by a team from the Centre, led by the Deputy Commandant (Dep Comdt) – Air Commodore (A/Cdre) David Anetey Akrong, assisted by the Director, Women Youth Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI) of KAIPTC – Madam Patience Agyare-Kwabi; Director Training; Colonel (Col) Anorph Barnabas Akanbong; and Chief Coordinator – Col Chris Dagadu.
Sharing his perspectives on the caption, A/Cdre Akrong said the topic chosen by the KJCSC contingent is one that has received considerable discussion and research in studies like sociology and organizational behaviour, and that the topic of diversity and innovation in military leadership, could lead to more innovative solutions.
As concerns the leadership styles and their effectiveness, he said they are more related to skills, behaviours and situational adaptability than to gender per se, however, gender could influence leadership styles especially in the military, with women exhibiting more transformational leadership qualities, such as inclusiveness in a collaborative approach.
He brought in Organizational Culture on Gender, and said most militaries are male-dominated, however, in the case of Ghana, Her first President – Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah – as a way of showcasing that ‘what men can do, women can also do’, brought women into the military, and trained some to fly his Presidential air craft.
He also posited that the strength of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in terms of male-to-female, is now made of 75%-25%, up from a past of 3%, and has seen a lady Major General, although deceased, including many other female 1-star Generals in the tri-Services.
Policy and structural barriers also impact on gender dynamics in military leadership, and these include the combat roles and physical standards: once a policy recognizes and accommodates the needs and strengths of both men and women, it helps to contribute to a more effective and durable military force, the Dep Comdt stated.
He concluded that the impact of gender on military leadership is multifaceted, involving leadership qualities, organizational structure and policy framework, as well as social norms, and that while gender can influence leadership styles and dynamics, the emphasis on capabilities, adaptability, and inclusiveness are key to enhancing effectiveness, and leadership excellence.
The KJCSC Commandant introduced his delegation as comprised of Directing Staff, Senior Officer/Students forming a fifth of the KJCSC Command and Staff Course 39, with the rest being on similar visiting assignments in other countries, and are in Ghana to listen, exchange ideas and network more.
Maj Gen Kinuthia said the course has 90 students for one year, who are undergoing both professional and academic programs run by the National Defence University (NDU), Kenya, and are accompanied by the Head of Programs, NDU – Dr Peter O Ouma: for KJCSC is a College under the NDU, and the Command and Staff Course 39 has within it the post-graduate diploma, diploma certificates, and modules.
The KJCSC Command and Staff Course 39 has students from 14 nationalities, most of them from African countries, 1 from India and another from Nepal, however, the Ghana tour contained Allied students from Egypt, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force, Kenya Navy, 5 Directing Staff: 4 Kenyans and 1 Ugandan.
Madam Patience Agyare-Kwabi and Madam Ayesha Nkrumah – Senior Protocol Officer, took turns to make presentations on purposes and activities of the WYPSI, and KAIPTC, respectively.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
