Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana)
{{Short description|Professional head of the Ghana Armed Forces}}
{{Use Ghanaian English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chief
| body = the Defence Staff
| native_name =
| flag =
| flagsize =
| flagborder =
| flagcaption =
| insignia = GAF – Ghana Armed Forces.png
| insigniasize =
| insigniacaption = Armed forces coat of arms
| image =
| imagesize =
| alt =
| incumbent = Major General William Agyapong
| acting =
| incumbentsince = 24 March 2025
| type =
| status =
| department = Ministry of Defence
| style = Sir
| member_of = the Defence Staff
| reports_to = Minister of Defence
| residence = Burma Camp
| seat =
| nominator =
| appointer = President of Ghana
| appointer_qualified = {{small|in consultation with the Council of State of Ghana}}
| termlength =
| termlength_qualified =
| constituting_instrument = Ghana constitution - Article 214
| precursor =
| formation = 1954
| first = Alexander G. V. Paley
| last =
| abolished =
| succession =
| abbreviation = CDS
| unofficial_names =
| deputy =
| salary =
| website = {{url|https://gafonline.mil.gh/message/cds|Official website}}
}}
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.1992 Ghana constitution - Article 213 The CDS is a member of the Armed Forces Council.1992 Ghana Constitution - Article 211. This council advice 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.1992 Ghana constitution - Article 214
The CDS is appointed by the President, in consultation with the Council of State of Ghana.1992 Ghana constitution - Article 212 (1)(a)
The current CDS is Major General William Agyapong. He was appointed by John Mahama in March 2025.
History of the post
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 modeled on the British Army. At independence in 1957, the highest ranking Ghanaian officer was a major.{{cite web|url=http://www.ghana.gov.gh/NRC/VOL%201%20CHAPTER%203%20%20EXEC.SUM.pdf |title=The Historical Context |access-date=2007-06-06 |date=October 2004 |pages=30–31 |work=National Reconciliation Commission Report Volume 1 Chapter 3 |publisher=Ghana government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016012437/http://www.ghana.gov.gh/NRC/VOL%201%20CHAPTER%203%20%20EXEC.SUM.pdf |archive-date=October 16, 2006 }} 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 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.ghana.gov.gh/NRC/Vol%204%20Chpt%201%20com.sec.rep.pdf |title=The Security Services |access-date=2007-06-06 |date=October 2004 |pages=30–31 |work=National Reconciliation Commission Report Volume 4 Chapter 1 |publisher=Ghana government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016012351/http://www.ghana.gov.gh/NRC/Vol%204%20Chpt%201%20com.sec.rep.pdf |archive-date=October 16, 2006 }} The first native Ghanaian CDS was Major General S. J. A. Otu.{{cite web |url=http://home.comcast.net/~amaah/writings/ghana-without-nkrumah-men-in-charge.html |title=Ghana Without Nkrumah - The Men In Charge |access-date=2007-06-07 |date=April 1966 |last=Kraus |first=Jon |pages=30–31 |work=Africa Report }}
Chiefs of the Defence Staff (1954–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.{{cite web |url=http://www.gaf.mil.gh/index.php?CatId=117 |title=Past General Officers Commanding /chiefs of the Defence Staff |access-date=2008-11-01 |date=2008-02-06 |work=Official website |publisher=Ghana Armed Forces |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016095242/http://www.gaf.mil.gh/index.php?CatId=117 |archive-date=2008-10-16 }}
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder = y
| showimage = y
| image_title = Portrait
| officeholder_title = Chief of the Defence Staff
| showtermlenght = y
| showparty = n
| showdefencebranch = y
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 1
| image = Lt Col Paley Transjordania-Leo Arthur Robitschek.jpg
| military_rank = Major General
| officeholder = Alexander G. V. Paley
| officeholder_sort = Paley, Alexander
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1903
| died_year = 1976
| term_start = 1954
| term_end = 11 January 1960
| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1954|1960}} years
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 2
| image =
| military_rank = Major General
| officeholder = Henry Templer Alexander {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=75%|sep=,|CB|CBE|DSO}}
| officeholder_sort = Alexander, Henry Templer
| officeholder_note = {{London Gazette|issue=41949 |date=5 February 1960 |page=1005 |supp=y}}
| born_year = 1911
| died_year = 1977
| term_start = 11 January 1960
| term_end = September 1961
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1960|01|11|1961|09|1}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 3
| image =
| military_rank = Major General
| officeholder = Stephen J. A. Otu{{cite book |title=Jubilee Ghana: A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic |date=2006 |publisher=Graphic Communications Group Ltd. |location=Accra |isbn=9988809786 |page=94}}
| officeholder_sort = Otu, Stephen
| officeholder_note = {{small|(First Ghanaian to be appointed CDS)}}
| born_year = 1915
| died_year = 1979
| term_start = September 1961
| term_end = 24 July 1965
| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1961|09|01|1965|07|24}} years
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 4
| image =
| military_rank = Major General
| officeholder = Nathan A. Aferi
| officeholder_sort = Aferi, Nathan
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1923
| died_year = 2003
| term_start = 24 July 1965
| term_end = 24 February 1966
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1965|07|24|1966|02|24}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 5
| image =
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka
| officeholder_sort = Kotoka, Emmanuel
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1926
| died_year = 1967
| died = y
| term_start = 24 February 1966
| term_end = 17 April 1967
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1966|02|24|1967|04|17}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 6
| image =
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Joseph Arthur Ankrah
| officeholder_sort = Ankrah, Joseph
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1915
| died_year = 1992
| died =
| term_start = 17 April 1967
| term_end = March 1968
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1967|04|17|1968|03|1}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 7
| image =
| military_rank = Air Marshal
| officeholder = Michael Akuoko Otu {{small|OSG}}
| officeholder_sort = Otu, Michael
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1925
| died_year = 2006
| died =
| term_start = March 1968
| term_end = November 1968
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1968|03|1|1968|11|1}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 8
| image =
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Albert Kwesi Ocran
| officeholder_sort = Ocran, Albert
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1929
| died_year = 2019
| died =
| term_start = November 1968
| term_end = November 1969
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1968|11|1|1969|11|1}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = (7)
| image =
| military_rank = Air Marshal
| officeholder = Michael Akuoko Otu {{small|OSG}}
| officeholder_sort = Otu, Michael
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1925
| died_year = 2006
| died =
| term_start = November 1969
| term_end = June 1971
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1969|11|1|1971|06|1}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 9
| image =
| military_rank = Major General
| officeholder = Daniel K. Addo
| officeholder_sort = Addo, Daniel
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = June 1971
| term_end = January 1972
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1971|06|1|1972|01|1}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 10
| image =
| military_rank = Air Vice-Marshal
| officeholder = Napoleon Yaovi R. Ashley-Lassen
| officeholder_sort = Ashley-Lassen, Napoleon
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1934
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = January 1972
| term_end = December 1974
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1972|01|1|1974|12|1}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 11
| image =
| military_rank = Major General
| officeholder = Lawrence A. Okai
| officeholder_sort = Okai, Lawrence
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1934
| died_year = 2017
| died =
| term_start = December 1974
| term_end = November 1976
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1974|12|1|1976|11|1}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 12
| image =
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Fred Akuffo
| officeholder_sort = Akuffo, Fred
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1937
| died_year = 1979
| died =
| term_start = November 1976
| term_end = 5 July 1978
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1976|11|1|1978|07|05}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 13
| image =
| military_rank = Major General
| officeholder = Robert Kotei
| officeholder_sort = Kotei, Robert
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1935
| died_year = 1979
| died =
| term_start = 5 July 1978
| term_end = 23 July 1978
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1978|07|05|1978|07|23}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 14
| image =
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Joshua Hamidu
| officeholder_sort = Hamidu, Joshua
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1936
| died_year = 2021
| died =
| term_start = 23 July 1978
| term_end = 4 June 1979
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1978|07|23|1979|06|04}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 15
| image =
| military_rank = Colonel
| officeholder = E. D. F. Prah
| officeholder_sort = Prah, E.
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 4 June 1979
| term_end = 7 July 1979
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1979|06|04|1979|07|07}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 16
| image = Joseph Nunoo-Mensah cropped.jpg
| military_rank = Brigadier
| officeholder = Joseph Nunoo-Mensah
| officeholder_sort = Nunoo-Mensah, Joseph
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1939
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 7 July 1979
| term_end = 27 November 1979
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1979|07|07|1979|11|27}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 17
| image =
| military_rank = Major General
| officeholder = Edwin Kwamina Sam
| officeholder_sort = Sam, Edwin
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1940
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 27 November 1979
| term_end = 6 December 1979
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1979|11|27|1979|12|06}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 18
| image =
| military_rank = Air Vice-Marshal
| officeholder = John E. Odaate-Barnor
| officeholder_sort = Odaate-Barnor, John
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1937
| died_year = 2012
| died =
| term_start = 7 December 1979
| term_end = 31 December 1981
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1979|12|07|1981|12|31}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = (16)
| image = Joseph Nunoo-Mensah cropped.jpg
| military_rank = Brigadier
| officeholder = Joseph Nunoo-Mensah
| officeholder_sort = Nunoo-Mensah, Joseph
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1939
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 1 January 1982
| term_end = 23 November 1982
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1982|01|01|1982|11|23}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 19
| image = Jerry Rawlings visits AMISOM 02 (6874167713) (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = Flight Lieutenant
| officeholder = Jerry Rawlings
| officeholder_sort = Rawlings, Jerry
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1947
| died_year = 2020
| died =
| term_start = 28 November 1982
| term_end = 25 August 1983
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1982|11|28|1983|08|25}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 20
| image =
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Arnold Quainoo
| officeholder_sort = Quainoo, Arnold
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 25 August 1983
| term_end = 22 September 1989
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1983|08|25|1989|09|22}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 21
| image =
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Winston Mensa-Wood
| officeholder_sort = Mensa-Wood, Winston
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1940
| died_year = 1992
| died =
| term_start = 4 June 1990
| term_end = 21 March 1992
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1990|06|04|1992|03|21}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 22
| image =
| military_rank = Air Marshal
| officeholder = Achilles Harry Kwami Dumashie
| officeholder_sort = Dumashie, Achilles
| born_year = 1938
| died_year = 2002
| died =
| term_start = 22 March 1992
| term_end = 1 October 1996
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1992|03|22|1996|10|01}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 23
| image =
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Ben K. Akafia
| officeholder_sort = Akafia, Ben
| born_year = 1940
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 1 October 1996
| term_end = February 2001
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|1996|10|01|2001|02|1}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 24
| image =
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Seth Kofi Obeng
| officeholder_sort = Obeng, Seth
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1945
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = February 2001
| term_end = 28 February 2005
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and months|2001|02|1|2005|02|20}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 25
| image =
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Joseph Boateng Danquah
| officeholder_sort = Danquah, Joseph
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1947
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 20 February 2005
| term_end = 28 January 2009
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2005|02|20|2009|01|28|}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = –
| image =
| military_rank = Rear Admiral
| officeholder = A. R. S. Nunoo
| officeholder_sort = Nunoo, A.
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 28 January 2009
| term_end = 31 March 2009
| acting = y
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2009|01|28|2009|03|31|}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 26
| image = Peter Blay (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Peter A. Blay
| officeholder_sort = Blay, Peter
| officeholder_note = {{cite news |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/photo.day.php?ID=159981 |title=Shake-up in Ghana Armed Forces |access-date=2009-04-02 |publisher=Ghana Home Page}}
| born_year =
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 31 March 2009
| term_end = 28 March 2013
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2009|03|31|2013|03|28}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 27
| image = Matthew Quashie (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = Vice Admiral
| officeholder = Matthew Quashie
| officeholder_sort = Quashie, Matthew
| born_year = 1951
| died_year = 2020
| died =
| term_start = 28 March 2013
| term_end = 5 January 2016
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2013|03|28|2016|01|05}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 28
| image = Air Vice Marshal Michael Samson-Oje.jpg
| military_rank = Air Marshal
| officeholder = Michael Samson-Oje
| officeholder_sort = Samson-Oje, Michael
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1954
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 5 January 2016
| term_end = 9 February 2017
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2016|01|05|2017|02|09}}
| defence_branch = {{air force|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 29
| image = Obed Boamah Akwa.jpg
| military_rank = Lieutenant General
| officeholder = Obed Akwa
| officeholder_sort = Akwa, Obed
| born_year = 1955
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 9 February 2017
| term_end = 5 February 2021
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2017|02|09|2021|02|05}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 30
| image = Vice Adm. Seth Amoama gives speech, 2021 (210319-N-TI693-1296) (cropped).jpg
| military_rank = Vice Admiral
| officeholder = Seth Amoama
| officeholder_sort = Amoama, Seth
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1959
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 5 February 2021
| term_end = 31 January 2024
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2021|02|05}}
| defence_branch = {{navy|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 31
| image =
| military_rank = General
| officeholder = Thomas Oppong-Peprah
| officeholder_sort = Oppong-Peprah, Thomas
| born_year =
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 1 February 2024
| term_end = 24 March 2025
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2024|02|01|2025|03|24}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order = 32
| image =
| military_rank = Major General
| officeholder = William Agyapong
| officeholder_sort = Agyapong, William
| born_year =
| died_year =
| died =
| term_start = 24 March 2025
| term_end = Incumbent
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2025|03|24}}
| defence_branch = {{army|Ghana}}
| ref =
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928085214/http://212.67.202.38/~gri/parlia/Gconst17.html 1992 Constitution Chapter 17:The Armed Forces of Ghana]
- [http://www.gaf.mil.gh/ Ghana Armed Forces website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721031206/http://www.gaf.mil.gh/ |date=2011-07-21 }}
{{Military of Ghana}}
{{Chief of military by country}}