Kofi Ampeah Woode
The newly appointed Force Commander and Head of Mission, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan, Syria – Major General (Maj Gen) Anita Asmah, has handed over her responsibilities as Director General, Department of Defence Civilian Establishment (DDCE), Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), after two years of leadership.
Maj Gen A Asmah transfered her authority as Director General, GAF DDCE to Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Charles Kweku Budu-Kumi, at a Handing/Taking Over (HTO) ceremony at the headquarters of the DDCE, Burma Camp, Accra on Friday 10 January 2025.
In her farewell remarks, General Asmah, describing the over 11,300 strong Defence Civilian Staff (DCS) as blankets, which when used in heat becomes too hot, and if not used in the cold becomes too cold, urged her successor to exercise a lot of patience, determination, be strong and resolute, to be able to face up to the challenges of the task.
Expressing confidence in the capabilities of her successor, she admonished Brig Gen CK Budu-Kumi not to ever underestimate the responsibilities of the DCS, as they perform so much work, but be able to resist unnecessary pressure and temtations, be fair and firm, keeping an open door policy in all his dealings, so that he can be approachable.
After the HTO ceremony, a female contingent mounted an honour guard in her honour, with the Chief of Staff, General Headquarters, GAF – Lieutenant General Joseph Prince Osei-Owusu; a number of Senior Female Officers of GAF; Deputy Director General, DDCE – Colonel William Karikari; Forces Sergeant Major – Chief Warrant Officer Addo Daniel; some Sergeant Majors, and staff of DCE, witnessing.
Maj Gen A Asmah was commissioned into GAF in 1992 as an Education Officer. She was an Instructor at GAF’s erstwhile Military Academy and Training Schools (now Training and Doctrines Command), and Chief Coordinator and Commanding Officer at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
She was Director of Higher Education at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Course Director and Facilitator at KAIPTC, Deputy Military Secretary at GAF’s General Headquarters, and the Director, GAF Education Corps.
General Asmah, who is a legal practitioner with a working knowledge of the French and Arabic languages, served as a Contingent Member, Staff Officer and Military Observer with UN Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), and was previously the Deputy Force Commander, UNDOF.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
