The Deputy Minister for Defence, Brogya Gyamfi, has called for the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) to evolve beyond its traditional role of training military officers and become a strategic institution capable of anticipating and preventing emerging security threats confronting West Africa.
He said the region’s increasingly complex security environment demands military institutions that not only train personnel but also shape policy and develop forward-looking solutions.
The remarks were delivered on his behalf by the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong, at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College’s 50th Anniversary Republic Day Lecture held on Wednesday, June 25.
The lecture, themed “From Sahel to the Gulf: Violent Extremism and Maritime Insecurity in West Africa,” formed part of activities marking the institution’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Reflecting on the college’s 50-year journey, the Deputy Minister said its establishment demonstrated Ghana’s confidence in its ability to develop its own strategic military leaders rather than depend on foreign institutions.
“Fifty years ago, a group of Ghanaian officers and their Commonwealth partners gathered here and decided that Ghana was ready to educate its own strategic leaders. That decision was an act of faith in Ghana’s potential, faith in Africa’s capacity for excellence, and faith that the continent did not need to outsource its strategic thinking. Half a century later, that faith has been fully vindicated,” he stated.
He said the college’s achievements over the past five decades reflect Ghana’s commitment to building indigenous military excellence and strategic leadership.
However, the Deputy Minister stressed that the next phase of the college’s development must be driven by innovation and strategic foresight. He urged the institution not only to prepare officers to respond to existing threats but also to equip them to anticipate emerging security challenges, shape policy responses and prevent conflicts before they escalate.
“The next 50 years will demand even more. They will require an institution that does not merely train officers but transforms leaders. They will require an institution that does not simply respond to security threats but anticipates them, shapes them and, where possible, prevents them. That is the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College the nation needs,” he stated.
He warned that the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel and growing maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea underscore the urgency of strengthening institutions capable of producing forward-thinking military leaders.
Describing the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College as a critical pillar in Ghana’s response to the evolving regional security landscape, he expressed confidence that its Golden Jubilee marks the beginning of a new chapter in its development as a centre of excellence for strategic military education in Africa.
He urged stakeholders to support the institution’s transformation to enable it to continue serving as a beacon of strategic leadership and security innovation for Ghana and the continent.
