Ghana’s National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) has celebrated its first-ever graduation, marking a milestone in the country’s commitment to strengthening its defense and security leadership.
The event, held at the Nicholson Stadium, Burma Camp, brought together 19 senior officers who completed a one-year Master of Arts programme in Strategic Studies. The theme of the ceremony, “Our Environment, Our Security, Our Development,” reflected the complex and interconnected nature of modern security challenges.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, addressed the graduates, stressing the importance of equipping military officers with the knowledge and tools to address pressing security issues such as terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime, and environmental degradation. He highlighted that the programme, designed to integrate strategic thinking with Ghana’s unique security landscape, would enable officers to tackle these challenges with foresight and leadership.
The President also revealed that Ghana had secured support from the Government of China and the GETFund to build a state-of-the-art, permanent campus for the NCDS, ensuring that future cohorts have access to world-class facilities for their studies.
“The establishment of this institution marks a new chapter in the development of our armed forces and the broader security landscape of our nation,” said President Akufo-Addo. He also called on the College to consider offering short courses in strategic leadership for civil servants to further broaden the scope of leadership training across sectors.
The Commandant of NCDS, Major General Irvine Nii-Ayitey Aryeetey, praised the initiative, noting the critical importance of strategic training for senior officers. He highlighted that the programme, which included a research study tour to countries across Africa, Asia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, has successfully fostered a deeper understanding of global security dynamics.
“A well-trained, strategically-minded leadership is essential for addressing the complex security challenges we face today,” Major General Aryeetey stated. He thanked both the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) for their support in ensuring the programme’s success.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of awards to the top-performing graduates. Colonel Kwasi Ayima was awarded the Late Lieutenant General Joseph Smith (Rtd) Leadership Award, Colonel Foster Okae Yeboah received the Vice Admiral Seth Amoama Strategy Award, and Naval Captain Michael Addo Larbi was honoured with the Commander-in-Chief Award for Best Dissertation.
