The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been named as the first Honorary Fellow of the esteemed National College of Defence Studies.
The College which has already earned approval to become a university after barely a year of its establishment by President Akufo-Addo, is honouring him for his commitment to the vision of creating a centre of excellence for strategic military education in Ghana.
Speaking at the maiden graduation ceremony of the National College of Defence Studies on Saturday 16th November, 2024, President Akufo-Addo said, the idea of establishing a dedicated Staff College in Ghana emerged at independence in 1957, when it became clear that Ghana would need to train her own officers to take over from British officers.
However, he added that, due to logistical constraints, Ghana continued to rely on external training opportunities offered by Commonwealth and allied nations.
According to him, it was not until 1976, with the support of advisory teams from the UK and Canada, that the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) was fully established at Teshie, marking the start of professional, mid-level military education within Ghana.
He said, since then, the Command and Staff College has excelled in providing operational level training and is now recognized globally as a centre for leadership, governance, military strategy, crisis management and international politics.
He disclosed that since then, the Command and Staff College has excelled in providing operational level training and is now recognized globally as a centre for leadership, governance, military strategy, crisis management and international politics.
“Mid-career education at the GAFCSC equips Captains and Majors with critical skills in leadership, ethical understanding, analysis and communication, thus, preparing them to face operational challenges. However, it became apparent that Ghana needed a higher-level institution to train leaders not just at the operational, but also at the strategic level—a level aimed at preparing Colonels and their equivalents for senior roles in national security and defence, added.
Recounting the various interventions undertaken by his government since 2017, President Akufo-Addo noted that, the Army has received 104 armoured personnel carriers, 70 utility troop carrying vehicles; 20 armoured vehicles; 85 assorted Toyota vehicles; 5 Ankai buses; 40 Jeep J8 vehicles; some Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment; large quantities of communication/surveillance equipment; varying quantities of weapons and four 4 un-maned aerial vehicle systems; the Ghana Navy has taken delivery of 4 offshore security vessels and four 4 Zodiac boats. We have also continued the process of upgrading the housing needs of the security services.”
On residential facilities, he stated that, the Barracks Regeneration Project Phases I and II, the Military Housing Project Phases I and II and the Ghana Military Academy Infrastructure project have also been completed and have been handed over.
This expansion has already seen the creation and establishment of the Army Special Operations Brigade, Armoured Brigade, Signal Brigade, and two Mechanised Battalions, which are deployed in the Upper West and Upper East Regions.
Further, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that, the construction and equipping of fifteen Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) across our northern frontiers for the Armed Forces for the Northern Border Project are on track. These FOBs include FOB Dollar Power, FOB Hamile, FOB Tumu, FOB Navrongo, FOBBawku, FOB Nalerigu, FOB Bunkpurugu, FOB Saboba, FOB Bimbilla, FOB Damongo, FOB Bole, FOB Jirapa, Forward Logistics Base at Wa, Forward Logistics Base at Bolgatanga and Main Logistics Base at Tamale.
On the Navy, he pointed out that, Government continues to equip the Navy with Offshore Patrol Vessels and Fast Patrol Boats to enhance counter piracy and other maritime threat operations and protect our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“Towards enhancing the capability of the Navy, I, last year, commissioned four (4) fast patrol boats, named VOLTA, PRA, ANKOBRA and DENSU, to protect our maritime resources, especially our offshore Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities.”
Still on working towards ensuring a well-equipped and motivated Armed Forces, he said, plans are in the offing to procure, for the Air Force, six (6) L-39 Ground Fighter Aircrafts, two (2) additional Ground Power Units, assorted aircrafts comprising Casa C2A5 Maritime Patrol Aircrafts, Mi-71SH Military Airlift Helicopters, VIP Transport Helicopters (H-225) and four (4) H-125 Reconnaissance Light Attack helicopters, to support the operations of the Special Forces.
Concluding, he reaffirmed Government’s unwavering commitment to supporting the National College of Defence Studies and described the College as “more than an academic institution but a national asset, a symbol of hope and a testament to what we can achieve when united by a common purpose.”
