Kofi Ampeah Woode
One of the finest of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) cohort – General (Gen) Thomas Yaw Oppong-Peprah turned in his gear, after thirty-nine years (39) of serving the Colours, and handed over to Major General William Agyapong.
A Transfer of Authority ceremony with Honour Guard and Pulling-Out sessions were held at the forecourt of the Department of Public Relations (DPR), on Monday 24 March 2025, at which Ghana’s Minister for Defence – Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah was the Guest of Honour.
Peace Journal publishes a Special Feature on Gen T Oppong-Peprah (also known as Yaw Thomas), who has undeniably been an avowed patron of our setup.
Gen T Oppong-Peprah (Rtd), who hails from Dormaa Ahenkro in the Bono Region of Ghana, entered the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) in 1984 and graduated in 1986 as the Best Officer Cadet in the Order of Merit, earning the Military Cane, and commissioned into the Armoured Corps of the Ghana Army as a Second Lieutenant.
He undertook several military courses at; i) the prestigious Combined Joint Forces Land Component Commander Course at the Army War College, Pennsylvania, United States of America (USA), being the first and only Ghanaian military Officer to have attended the course; ii) the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, United Kingdom (UK).
He also studied iii) Law of Combatting Terrorism at the Defence Institute of International Legal Studies, Newport, Rhode Island, USA; iv) Army Air Command Staff Course, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA; v) Senior Commanding Staff Course at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Accra, and won Overall Best Officer in Order of Merit.
He further studied vi) Junior Command Staff Course at the Command and Staff College, Kaduna, Nigeria, and won Best Foreign Student; vii) Armour Officers’ Basic Course at the US Army’s General Davis Armour School, Fort Knox.
His civil educational qualifications include 1) Master of Arts (MA) degree in International Security and Strategy from King’s College, London, UK; 2) Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Human Resource Management, University of Ghana (UG), Legon; 3) Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Administration from UG, Legon; and 4) a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Commanding Staff Appointments include; I) the first and only Officer to have commanded – Commanding Officer (CO) – both 64 Infantry Regiment and the erstwhile Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (RECCE) – now 153 Armoured Regiment – at the same time; II) Director, Strategic Intelligence, Defence Intelligence Department, General Headquarters (GHQ);
He also was III) Director, Operations and Plans, Defence Industries Department, GHQ; IV) Director, Army Training; V) Director, Army Peacekeeping Operations; VI) Chief Staff Officer, Army Headquarters (AHQ); VII) General Officer Commanding (GOC), Southern Command (S/COMD), Ghana Army; VIII) Member, Governing Board, National Disaster Management Organization, and Coordinator, State Transport Security.
Internationally, he served as a Humanitarian Officer with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR); a Military Observer with the UN Aouzou Strip Observer Group in Libya (UNASOG); Staff Officer in-charge of Transport and Plans, UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO); and Detachment 2nd in Command (2IC), and Troop Leader on three occasions, with UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
General Oppong-Peprah (Rtd) was decorated with the Long Service and Efficiency Medal on 7 November 2002.
He was Chief of Staff (COS), GHQ GAF, January 2019 and February 2020; Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Ghana Army, March 2020 to January 2024; and CDS on February 1, 2024 – and became first CDS to attain the 4-star General rank on Friday 3rd January 2025, after leading GAF’s expansion pursuit when he was COAS.
He assumed office as CDS, with a vision to have a highly motivated, well-trained, and well-equipped Armed Forces with quality Officers, Soldiers, and Defence Civilian Staff to perform all assigned tasks.
During his tenure as GOC, COAS and CDS, GAF saw significant infrastructural development, including new accommodation and facilities, and also established strategic military bases in expanding GAF to strengthen military operational effectiveness, improve national security, and to enable the nation meet the ever-changing threat dynamics in the West African sub-region.
His attainments include;
1) Maintenance/repairs/spraying of all AHQ Vehicles including vehicles for Directors, 2) Maintenance/repairs/spraying and repairs of all ACOTA vehicles, 3) Renovation of Jubilee House Barracks, 4) Construction of Soldiers’ Transit Quarters at 5 Infantry Battalion (5BN), 5) Construction of Officers Motel behind Arakan Officers Mess, 6) Construction of Soldiers Accommodation at Ghana Military Police.
7) UNIFIL Purchases for all Commands and Units – Computers, Printers, Air Conditions, 8) Purchase of Fire extinguishers for AHQ, 9) Payment of Tiling for AHQ Block – skirting, 10) Purchase of All-in-One Computers for General Officers Commanding (GOCs) and Directors for videoconferencing at AHQ, 11) Purchase and installation of Air Conditions for ATRAC Simulation Centre.
12) Internet connectivity at all AHQ Blocks, 13) Construction of Car Port for all Directors and Staff, 14) Furnishing of Battle Training Camp (BTC), Bundase Conference/Ops Room and purchase of Kitchen Equipment, 15) Repair of Faulty Generator set at BTC, Bundase, 16) Purchase of Drones, 17) Purchase of Official Vehicle for Service Public Relations Office (SPRO).
18) Renovation of Northern Command (N/COMD) Armoury, 19) Repair of Operational Vehicles for all Commands and Units, 20) Construction of 150 units for Soldiers at Daboya Training Camp, 21) Water and electricity connection to Officers’ Transit Quarters, 22) DSTV Connection for Armour Training School, 23) Water connection to Artillery Training School, Akoefe Camp, 24) Rehabilitation of burnt Accommodation at Central Command.
25) Sewing of No 1 Working Dress for Cadets, 26) Construction of Armour Training School Intsructors’ Accommodation, 27) Construction of Ablution and Kitchenette at Bazua Barracks, 28) Construction works at Dokorkyina Detachment, 29) Construction of Soldiers Accommodation at 153 Armoured Regiment Barracks.
30) Fencing of Dokorkyina Detachment Camp, 31) Repair and Spraying of all Operation Calm Life Vehicles of Commands and Units, 32) Sponsored overseas courses for officers, 33) Repair of LMTV, Steyr, Navara Pick-Up & Operational vehicles, 34) Construction of 35-Bed Accommodation at Bundase (Oppong-Peprah Block).
35) Construction of 50-man Accommodation at BTC (Part of UN Village), 36) Construction of 2 X 100 Man Accommodation at BTC (Part of UN Village), 37) Renovation and construction works at Army Recruit Training School (ART), 38) Maintenance works at Jungle Warfare School (JWS), 39) Construction of 120 Desks and Dining Hall Tables at Air Force Training School.
40) Donation of computers and printers to Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) – Junior Division, 41) Printing of manuals for all Training Schools, 42) Donation of 15 Computers and 1 heavy duty printer to Army Training Command (ATRAC), 43) Donation of 2 Hyundai I 10 vehicles to DAIP Office, 44) Donation of Hyundai I10 vehicles to HQ N/COMD.
45) Renovation Works at Demo Lines, ACTS, 46) Establishment of 10 and 11 Mechanize Battalions, 47) Introduction of Quarterly Newsletter Bulletin, 48) Set up of Audio-Visual Office/Studio for SPRO, 49) Connection of pipe to 48 Engineer Regiment for water supply, 50) Construction of ablution units for Soldiers of 64 Infantry Regiment & 153 Armoured Regiment.
51) Roofing of ARTS Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ (SNCO) Mess, 52) Purchase of Disinfectant Stations for all Training Schools during COVID, 53) Construction of Young Officers’ Accommodation at 1BN, 54) Donation of computers to GAFCSC Senior Division, 55) Construction of 320-bed accommodation at Armour Training School.
56) Construction of 100-bed accommodation at 64 Inf Regt, 57) Construction of 150-bed accommodation at 154 Armd Regt, 58) Construction of Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB) HQ, 59) Construction of 1000-seater Multi-Purpose Hall at BTC, 60) Construction of 200-bed accommodation for Army Peace Operations Training School (APOTS) instructors.
61) Construction of 100-bed Female accommodation at BTC, 62) Establishment of APOTS, 63) UN Certification Recognition for APOTS, 64) Construction of Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Bui Power Authority, 65) Manufacture of Prototype Jeep, 66) Sewing of Fragmentation Jackets for Ops Maida Buuri, 67) Donation of computers to 37 Military Hospital Public Health Department.
68) Purchase of office equipment for Army Recruit Mobile Reserve Team (ARMRT), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), 69) Establishment of 17 Signal Brigade, 70) Establishment of 81 Signal Regiment, 71) Establishment of 87 Signal Regiment, 72) Establishment of 851 EOD Regt, 73) Establishment of 155 Armd Regt, 74) Establishment of ASOB, 75) Establishment of 15 Armoured Brigade, 76) Establishment of 12 Mechanized Battalion.
77) Introduction of Battalion Commanders Course, 78) Renovation of Instructors accommodation at Armour Training School, 79) Construction of Modern Theatre and purchase of equipment at 3MRS, 80) Renovation of ACTS Infantry Platoon Accommodation, 81) Repair of accident vehicles at ACTS, 82) Construction of 12 Mechanized Battalion Barracks.
83) Purchase of 200KVA Generator set for JWS, 84) Purchase of 45,000 pieces of BDU Camouflage Uniforms for Army Personnel, 85) Connection of Internet facility at BTC, 86) Purchase of Bus and Sports Equipment for Army Sports Team, 87) Establishment of Family Life Counseling Centers in 4, 5 and 6 Garrisons, 88) Construction of 100 and 50-bed capacity accommodation units at ASOTS Daboya.
89) Construction of accommodation units at 155 Armd Regt, 90) Renovation of dilapidated ablution at BTC for troops, 91) Construction of Officers’ ablution units at BTC, 92) Construction of 320-bed BK Akafia Transit Lodge, 93) Oppong-Peprah Block Officers Transit Accommodation at Burma Camp, 94) Supply of tertiary desk for APOTS.
95) Construction of Kitchen facility at Dokorkyina Camp, 96) Construction of Drill Square at ASOTS – Daboya, 97) Renovation of Commanding Officer’s accommodation and SNCO’s accommodation at Artillery Training School, 98) Introduction of Annual Field Training Exercise (FTX) – Ex Eagle Claws, 99) Provision of Genset to ASOTS, Daboya.
100) Introduction of Collaborative System-Paperless System at AHQ, 101) Introduction and funding of Army Electronic-Library project, 102) Renovation of 17 Signal Brigade Headquarters, 103) Construction of Soldiers’ ablution units at 1 Signal Regiment, 104) Completion of 800-seater Dining Hall project at ARTS, 105) Funding for completion of Officers accommodation and Junior Ranks Mess at 2BN, 106) Construction of Modern Washrooms at JWS for recruits.
107) Reconfiguration of 122 Multiple Rocket Launchers for 66 Artillery Regiment, 108) Renovation of Young Officers Accommodation at 3 Infantry Battalion, 109) Construction of Filling Station and Mechanized Transport (MT) Yard at 10 Mechanized Battalion, 110) Renovation of MT Yard at 6Bn, 111) Construction of 100-bed accommodation at Mognori.
112) Renovation of outpost accommodation for 11 Mechanized Battalion, 113) Construction of 50-bed accommodation at BTC (Part of UN Village); 114) Construction of 100-bed accommodation at BTC (Part of UN Village); 115) Construction of Lecture Hall at ASOTS, Daboya.
116) Construction of New Medical Facilities – Tamale; 117) Construction Of Duala Hospital; 118) Repair of Sewage System at Duala Barracks; 119) New Sewage System For Burma Camp; 120) Improving Water Situation at Duala Barracks; 121) Creating Water Farms; 122) Counselling & Family Life Centres; 123) Providing Accommodation for National College of Defence Studies (NCDS);
124) Renovated Northern Command Armoury; 125) Establishment of 12 Mechanized Battalion, Sandema; 126) Construction of New Base Ordnance Depot; 127) Support Jungle Warfare School Project; 128) Duala Redevelopment Project; 129) Construction of GHQ Command Gate; 130) Renovated GHQ (Camp) Headquarters; 131) Renovation of DPR; 132) Provision of Equipment for DPR;
133) Provided Support for GAF Critical Care Unit; 134) 120mm Multiple Rocket Launching System; 135) Refurbished Vehicles At Northern Command; 136) Beautification Of Burma Camp; 137) Reconstruction of Bus Stop at Burma Camp; 138) Reconstruction of Car Park at Supply Depot, Burma Camp; 139) Purchase of largest Ship for Ghana Navy – GNS Achimota.
Gen Oppong-Peprah tells of his entry into the Ghana Military Academy: “In the late evening of 1st November 1984, a young man from Dormaa Ahenkro in the Bono Region reported at the campus of the University of Ghana to pursue his studies in Bachelor of Science Administration.
Prior to his arrival on campus, there had been a students’ strike the previous year that led to the destruction of louvers and pipelines at the university. The young man had applied for entry into the GMA and had successfully gone through the selection process and gained admission.
On arrival at his Hall of Residence, this young man found a pool of water in the room that was allocated to him. It was late then and the dark room prevented him from mopping the pool of water that night. He sat on the bed all night wondering how his stay at the university was going to be.
The following morning, he made a critical decision that was going to alter his life in the future. He packed his bag, hired a taxi, and left for the GMA to begin military training. A pool of water that ordinarily would have been overlooked became a destiny changer, and provided GAF its 1st 4-star General as CDS”.
He counts his notable achievements to include the appointment of the first female as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), the acquisition of the largest ship in Ghana’s history, and the granting of a Presidential Charter to the National Defence University, allowing it to become autonomous and award diplomas and degrees.
He expressed gratitude to the governments of the USA, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, China, Austria, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, India, Canada, Brazil, Kenya, Rwanda, and the European Union, just to mention a few, for helping GAF during his tenure.
General Thomas Oppong-Peprah (Rtd) is associated with two sayings; “There will be thousand and one reasons why it cannot be done. There will also be one reason why it can and must be done. Find that reason”, and “Team work makes the dream work”.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
