Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)

The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the professional head of the Ghana Armed Forces. He is thus responsible for the administration and the operational control and command of the Ghana military.^[1] The Ghana Army was formed after World War II out of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force. The officer corps then was entirely European. It was modelled on the British army. At independence in 1957, the highest ranking Ghanaian officer was a Major.^[2] Major General A. G. V. Paley served as the General Officer Commanding the Ghana Regiment of Infantry which had succeeded the Gold Coast Regiment between 1957 and 1959. This position was effectively equivalent to Army commander as there was no Air Force or Navy.

The position of Chief of Defence Staff was first created in 1959 after the formation of the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Air Force. Major General Henry Templer Alexander was appointed as the first CDS though he effectively doubled as the Ghana army commander as well. Since 1961, the position of army commander and CDS have been separate.^[3] The first native Ghanaian CDS was Major General S. J. A. Otu.^[4] The CDS is a member of the Armed Forces Council.^[5] This council advices the President of Ghana on matters of policy relating to defence and also regulates the administration of the Armed Forces. It also advises the President on the promotion of all officers above the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel or its equivalent.^[6] The CDS has also been known as the General Officer Commanding (GOC).

The CDS is appointed by the President, in consultation with the Council of State of Ghana.^[7]

The current CDS is Major General P.A. Blay. He was appointed by President Mills on 31 March 2009.

Chiefs of the Defence Staff

The former heads of the Ghana Armed Forces were referred to while in office as either General Officers Commanding or Chiefs of the Defence Staff.^[8]

• Major General A. G. V. Paley (1954 – 11 Jan 1960)
• Major General Henry Templer Alexander (1960 – September 1961)^[9]
• Major General Stephen J. A. Otu (September 1961 – 1965) - first Ghanaian to be appointed CDS
• Major General N. A. Aferi (1965 – 1966)
• Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka (1966 – 1967) Initially Major General
• Lieutenant General J. A. Ankrah (1967 – 1968)
• Air Marshal Michael Akuoko Otu (Mar 1968 – Nov 1968)
• Lieutenant General Albert Kwasi Ocran (Nov 1968 – Nov 1969)
• Air Marshal Michael Akuoko Otu (Nov 1969 – June 1971)
• Major General Daniel K. Addo (Jun 1971 – Jan 1972)
• Major General Napoleon Yaovi R. Ashley-Larsen (Jan 1972 - Dec 1974)
• Major General Lawrence A. Okai (Dec 1974 – Nov 1976)
• Lieutenant General Fred Akuffo (Nov 1976 – July 1978)
• Major General Robert Kotei (4 July 1978 – 23 July 1978)
• Lieutenant General Joshua Hamidu (July 1978 – June 1979)
• Colonel E. D. F. Prah (Jun 1979 – Jul 1979)
• Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (July 1979 – Nov 1979)
• Major General Edwin Kwamina Sam (Nov 1979 - Dec 1979)
• Air Vice-Marshal J. E. Odaate - Barnor–(Dec 1979 – 31 December 1981) - earlier Air Commodore
• Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (Jan 1982 – Nov 1982)
• Flight Lieutenant J. J. Rawlings (Nov 1982 - Aug 1983)
• Lieutenant General Arnold Quainoo (Aug 1983 – Sept 1989)
• Lieutenant General W. M. Mensa-Wood (June 1990 – Mar 1992)
• Air Marshal Achilles Harry Kwami Dumashie (Mar 1992 – Oct 1996)^[10]
• Lieutenant General Ben K. Akafia (Oct 1996 – Feb 2001^[11])
• Lieutenant General Seth Kofi Obeng (Feb 2001 – Feb 2005)
• Lieutenant General Joseph Boateng Danquah (20 May 2005 - 28 Jan 2009)
• Rear Admiral A.R.S Nunoo (acting from 28 Jan 2009 - 31 Mar 2009)
• Lieutenant General Peter A. Blay (31 Mar 2009 - present)^[12]

See also

• Ghana Army
• Ghana Air Force
• Ghana Navy

References

1. ^ 1992 Ghana constitution - Article 213
2. ^ "The Historical Context" (pdf). National Reconciliation Commission Report Volume 1 Chapter 3. Ghana government. October 2004. pp. 30–31. http://www.ghana.gov.gh/NRC/VOL%201%20CHAPTER%203%20%20EXEC.SUM.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-06. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "The Security Services" (pdf). National Reconciliation Commission Report Volume 4 Chapter 1. Ghana government. October 2004. pp. 30–31. http://www.ghana.gov.gh/NRC/Vol%204%20Chpt%201%20com.sec.rep.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-06. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Kraus, Jon (April 1966). "Ghana Without Nkrumah - The Men In Charge". Africa Report. pp. 30–31. http://home.comcast.net/~amaah/writings/ghana-without-nkrumah-men-in-charge.html. Retrieved 2007-06-07. 
5. ^ 1992 Ghana Constitution - Article 211.
6. ^ 1992 Ghana constitution - Article 214
7. ^ 1992 Ghana constitution - Article 212 (1)(a)
8. ^ "Past General Officers Commanding /chiefs of the Defence Staff". Official website. Ghana Armed Forces. 2008-02-06. http://www.gaf.mil.gh/index.php?CatId=117. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 
9. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41949. p. 1005. 5 February 1960. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
10. ^ "Farewell Service Held For Ex-Chief Of Defence Staff". General News of Friday, 31 January 2003. Ghana Home Page. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=32264. Retrieved 2007-06-19. 
11. ^ "New Military Chiefs Take Over Command". General News of Monday, 26 March 2001 (Ghana Home Page). http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=14343. Retrieved 2007-06-19. 
12. ^ "Shake-up in Ghana Armed Forces". Ghana Home Page. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/photo.day.php?ID=159981. Retrieved 2009-04-02. 

External links

• 1992 Constitution Chapter 17:The Armed Forces of Ghana
• Ghana Armed Forces website