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 Vice Admiral Matthew Quashie. He was appointed by President Mahama on 28 March 2013.[8]
Chiefs of the Defence Staff, 1954 to present
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.[9]
No. | Portrait | Rank | Name | Appointment | Left office | Unit | Decorations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Major General | A. G. V. Paley | 1954 | 11 January 1960 | Ghana Army | ||
2 | Major General | Henry Templer Alexander[10] | 1960 | September 1961 | Ghana Army | CB, CBE, DSO | |
3 | Major General | Stephen J. A. Otu (first Ghanaian to be appointed CDS) | September 1961 | 1965 | Ghana Army | ||
4 | Major General | N. A. Aferi | 1965 | 1966 | Ghana Army | ||
5 | Lieutenant General | Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka | 1966 | 1967 | Ghana Army | ||
6 | Lieutenant General | J. A. Ankrah | 1967 | 1968 | Ghana Army | ||
7 | Air Marshal | Michael Akuoko Otu | March 1968 | November 1968 | Ghana Air Force | OSG | |
8 | Lieutenant General | Albert Kwesi Ocran | November 1968 | November 1969 | Ghana Army | ||
9 | Air Marshal | Michael Akuoko Otu | November 1968 | June 1971 | Ghana Air Force | OSG | |
10 | Major General | Daniel K. Addo | June 1971 | January 1972 | Ghana Army | ||
11 | Major General | Napoleon Yaovi R. Ashley-Larsen | January 1972 | December 1974 | Ghana Army | ||
12 | Major General | Lawrence A. Okai | December 1974 | November 1976 | Ghana Army | ||
13 | Lieutenant General | Fred Akuffo | November 1976 | July 1978 | Ghana Army | ||
14 | Major General | Robert Kotei | 4 July 1978 | 23 July 1978 | Ghana Army | ||
15 | Lieutenant General | Joshua Hamidu | July 1978 | June 1979 | Ghana Army | ||
16 | Colonel | E. D. F. Prah | June 1979 | July 1979 | Ghana Army | ||
17 | Brigadier | Joseph Nunoo-Mensah | July 1979 | November 1979 | Ghana Army | ||
18 | Major General | Edwin Kwamina Sam | November 1979 | December 1979 | Ghana Army | ||
19 | Air Vice-Marshal | J. E. Odaate – Barnor | 7 December 1979 | 31 December 1981 | Ghana Air Force | ||
20 | Brigadier | Joseph Nunoo-Mensah | January 1982 | November 1982 | Ghana Army | ||
21 | Flight Lieutenant | J. J. Rawlings | November 1982 | August 1983 | Ghana Air Force | ||
22 | Lieutenant General | Arnold Quainoo | August 1983 | September 1989 | Ghana Army | ||
23 | Lieutenant General | W. M. Mensa-Wood | June 1990 | March 1992 | Ghana Army | ||
24 | Air Marshal | Achilles Harry Kwami Dumashie[11] | March 1992 | October 1996 | Ghana Air Force | ||
25 | Lieutenant General | Ben K. Akafia | October 1996 | February 2001[12] | Ghana Army | ||
26 | Lieutenant General | Seth Kofi Obeng | February 2001 | February 2005 | Ghana Army | ||
27 | Lieutenant General | Joseph Boateng Danquah | 20 May 2005 | 28 January 2009 | Ghana Army | ||
Rear Admiral | A. R. S. Nunoo (acting CDS) | 28 January 2009 | 31 March 2009 | Ghana Navy | |||
28 | Lieutenant General | Peter A. Blay[13] | 31 March 2009 | 28 March 2013 | Ghana Army | ||
29 | Vice Admiral | Matthew Quashie[8] | 28 March 2013 | present | Ghana Navy |
See also
References
- ↑ 1992 Ghana constitution - Article 213
- ↑ "The Historical Context" (pdf). National Reconciliation Commission Report Volume 1 Chapter 3. Ghana government. October 2004. pp. 30–31. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ↑ "The Security Services" (pdf). National Reconciliation Commission Report Volume 4 Chapter 1. Ghana government. October 2004. pp. 30–31. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ↑ Kraus, Jon (April 1966). "Ghana Without Nkrumah - The Men In Charge". Africa Report. pp. 30–31. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
- ↑ 1992 Ghana Constitution - Article 211.
- ↑ 1992 Ghana constitution - Article 214
- ↑ 1992 Ghana constitution - Article 212 (1)(a)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Profile of Vice Admiral Mathew Quashie, Chief of Defence Staff". www.highstreetmail.com. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ↑ "Past General Officers Commanding /chiefs of the Defence Staff". Official website. Ghana Armed Forces. 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41949. p. 1005. 5 February 1960. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- ↑ "Farewell Service Held For Ex-Chief Of Defence Staff". General News of Friday, 31 January 2003. Ghana Home Page. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
- ↑ "New Military Chiefs Take Over Command". General News of Monday, 26 March 2001 (Ghana Home Page). Retrieved 2007-06-19.
- ↑ "Shake-up in Ghana Armed Forces". Ghana Home Page. Retrieved 2009-04-02.