Officers from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and other security agencies have graduated from Course 2 of the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) after a rigorous professional programme aimed at strengthening strategic leadership, governance and national security management.
The participants were made up of 22 officers from GAF, along with one officer each from the National Security Secretariat, the Zambia Air Force, the Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division) and the Uganda Defence Force.
Run over a period of 11 months, the programme exposed participants to a blend of academic instruction, syndicate work, strategic research, policy analysis and interactive engagements designed to prepare them for senior leadership roles in defence, security and governance institutions.
These were complemented by interactions with subject-matter experts, practitioners and policymakers, as well as a strategic research component designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice and deepen participants’ understanding of how high-level defence, security and governance decisions are made.
The graduation ceremony took place at the Burma Camp in Accra last Friday on the theme: “Simple Moral Accountable Responsible and Transparent (SMART) Governance for Sustainable Development”.
Awards
During the graduation, some of the graduates were recognised for their outstanding performance during the course.
The Lt Gen. Joseph Henry Smith Award for Strategic Leadership was presented to Colonel Daniel Amenyo Agbeko of the Ghana Army, while the Vice Admiral Seth Amoama Award for Strategy Making went to Naval Captain Ramsey Bamba of the Ghana Navy.
The President of Ghana Award for the Best Dissertation was won by Colonel Isshaku Beyoltiem Mohammed of the Ghana Army.
Programme structure
The acting Commandant of the NCDS, Brigadier General Frederick Dankyi Ntiri, congratulated the graduating class, stating that the ceremony marked not only the culmination of their academic journey but also the reaffirmation of their dedication to leadership and intellectual advancement.
He stated that professional military education was constantly evolving due to shifting security dynamics, emerging threats, technological advancements and changing expectations of leadership, making continuous innovation essential for institutions such as the NCDS.
He highlighted the strategic studies and research component as a core feature of the programme, noting that it provided participants with a practical framework for understanding how strategic decisions were taken in defence, security and governance settings.
He added that the studies addressed contemporary issues with direct relevance to national policy formulation and implementation.
Brig. Gen. Ntiri expressed appreciation to the National Security Secretariat, the GAF, allied security agencies and international partners for their continued support and appealed for sustained investment in the college’s infrastructure, research capacity and academic programmes.
Background of NCDS
A former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Vice Admiral Seth Amoama (rtd), indicated that the inauguration of the NDCS in 2023 marked a turning point in the country’s efforts to build strategic-level leadership capable of responding to an increasingly complex security environment.
He recalled that for more than two decades, plans to establish a national defence college were constrained by funding, infrastructure challenges and competing priorities.
However, he noted that through determination and collective commitment, the vision was realised during his tenure as CDS, culminating in the graduation of the college’s first cohort of 19 participants in November 2023.
He said the achievement symbolised the country’s resolve to strengthen readiness, enhance operational capabilities and consolidate its strategic posture amid evolving security threats.
He commended the military high command and planning team that worked with him to bring the college into being, acknowledging the contributions of senior officers, including the current CDS and other commanders, as well as international partners such as the German government, which supported the initial hosting of the programme.
