Kofi Ampeah Woode
Vice Admiral (V/Adm) Issah Adam Yakubu has sunk his anchors and gone ashore for good, after about thirty-seven (37) years of meritorious service to the Ghana Navy (GN), out of which he was the 18th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) from 5 February 2021.
Per military traditions, a Pulling-Out ceremony after a Guard of Honour, was held at the Forecourt of the GN Headquarters, Burma Camp, Accra, on Friday 21 March 2025, at which the 19th CNS, GN – Commodore (Cdre) Godwin Livinus Bessing, took over the helm of affairs.
As CNS, V/Adm IA Yakubu – the 2nd 3-Star General to lead GN since setup – set out with a collective mission to strengthen GN’s operational readiness, uphold professionalism, and protect Ghana’s maritime domain with vigilance and pride.
He led GN with a vision to maintain a modern robust naval force capable of defending Ghana against seaborne threats, and ensuring the safety and security of the maritime domain, for the development of the Blue Economy, while maintaining the time-tested traditions of the Navy.
He achieved fleet expansion and modernization, massive infrastructural development, improved training facilities, enhanced welfare for personnel, and greater collaboration with the Navy’s international partners – example being the Ghana-Denmark-United States of America (USA) Trilateral Agreement, with massive investments in GN by the governments of Denmark and the USA.
A Citation of Honour by the Naval Force to Admiral Yakubu, described him as an astute and selfless leader, who embodied the values of hard work, loyalty and dedication to excellence, and said that his tenure as CNS was marked by monumental growth in personnel administration, operational readiness and productive collaboration with partners and stakeholders.
He is credited with instituting the Ghana Navy Endowment Fund, bringing respite to families of fallen compatriots who hitherto had to wait long periods to get their gratuity, as well as serving and retired personnel benefitting from his magnanimity when faced with welfare issues.
Under his leadership, the long-standing challenge of accommodation is no longer ‘a chorus on our lips’, the citation stated.
Administrative processes have never been better than now, with the introduction of the Ghana Navy Integrated Management System (GNIMS), through which the Navy has become truly paperless with technology driving its Administration and Operations.
He has ensured the use of unmanned systems in the naval force’s operations, admitting the Ghana Navy to the club of few navies with such a capability, and that through the deployment of drones and the ongoing installation of state-of-the-art unmanned surveillance system, total coverage of Ghana’s maritime domain is becoming a reality.
Additionally, he ensured that the fleet is afloat with the addition of more vessels into the inventory of the Navy, key among which is the biggest ever ship the Navy has owned – Ghana Navy Ship Achimota.
He defied all odds to acquire 4 new vessels, using innovation and grit, at no cost to Ghana’s government, and an offshore patrol vessel, and has evolved the GN Special Boat Squadron to be among the best on the continent.
Through his excellent networking and interpersonal relationship with partners and stakeholders, support has become unprecedented, culminating in the highest number of personnel trainings abroad, with local training also receiving a boost with the installation of the first ever Full Mission Bridge Simulator and Ship-in-a-Box facilities.
Delivering his farewell speech, V/Adm IA Yakubu (Rtd) described his military career as “a humbling journey, one filled with challenges, triumphs, and countless lessons”, since 1987 when he entered the Ghana Military Academy (GMA), and became CNS, as one of the greatest honours of his life.
He attributed achievements under his tenure as a testament to the hard work, commitment, and resilience of GN’s Officers, Ratings, and Defence Civilian Employees of the Ghana Navy.
He urged them to continue to serve with pride and professionalism, remain steadfast, keeping in fresh memory that the strength of GN lies not only in its ships and weapons, but in the discipline, unity and loyalty of each one of its personnel.
Of Cdre Godwin Livinus Bessing, he assured that GN is in capable hands, and that he would lead with distinction, integrity and deep sense of duty, because he knew him quite well.
Present at the ceremony included the Chief Director, Ministry for Defence – Mr. Lawoetey Tettey; Ambassador Virginia Palmer – USA Ambassador to Ghana; Chief of the Defence Staff, Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – General Thomas Oppong-Peprah; Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Bismarck Onwona; Chief of Staff, General Headquarters – Lt Gen Joseph Prince Osei-Owusu; Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chamba; Mrs. Salamatu Yakubu – spouse of Admiral Yakubu;
Others included GAF Formation Commanders, Directors General at the General Headquarters, Chief Staff Officers, Senior Officers serving and retired, members of the Association of the Tied Naval Officers, Defense Attachés present, Officers, Forces Sergeant Major, Service Sergeant Majors, Ratings, Defence Civilian Staff, members of the Naval Wives Association.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
