GAFCSC HOLDS 2025 JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY
The Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) held its 2025 joint graduation ceremony for the regular Senior Command and Staff Course (SCSC) 46 and the Master of Science in Defence and International Politics (MDIP) and Master of Science in Security Studies (MSS) at Hamidu Hall, Teshie, in Accra on Friday, 22 August 2025. The graduation marks the successful completion of SCSC 46, MDIP and MSS.
A total of 97 officers of SCSC 46, comprising sixty-seven officers from the Ghana Armed Forces and thirty allied officers drawn from fifteen African Countries graduated. In addition, 36 students of the MDIP graduated while seven others of the MSS programme also graduated.
The Guest of Honour and Chairperson of the Armed Forces Council, Her Excellency Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, commended GAFCSC for its role in producing world-class officers and scholars.
She lauded the College for maintaining high academic and professional standards despite growing student numbers. She congratulated the Acting Commandant and Staff for adapting GAFCSC’s curriculum to address emerging security threats such as climate change, terrorism, cybercrime and transnational crime.
The Vice President expressed gratitude to the Military High Command, the Staff College Control Board, faculty and international partners, including the UK Government for sponsoring allied officers.
The Acting Commandant of GAFCSC, Brigadier General Jackson Wonje in his report noted that the course provided rigorous training for command and staff leadership duties, with a strong emphasis on joint, combined and multi-domain operations. He further emphasised partnerships with institutions such as the United States Air Force War College and the United Kingdom Army Command and Staff College, while noting ongoing infrastructure upgrades to enhance digital learning.
He thanked partners including GETFund and appealed for continued support to transform GAFCSC into a modern, technology-driven centre of excellence.
The Acting President of the National Defence University, Air Vice Marshal Felix Adom Asante conferred the postgraduate degrees on deserving graduates.
For the awards for Senior Command and Staff Course 46, Major Fred Darko-Ampem Konadu of the Ghana Army was adjudged the Overall Best Graduate (Honour Graduate) and Best Army Graduate. Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Peprah Obuobi was the 2nd Overall Best Graduate with Major Jude Nii Otu Anim as the 3rd Overall Best Graduate.
Squadron Leader Tarilado Collins Ogoina of the Nigerian Air Force was adjudged the Best Allied Graduate. Major Patience Naa Ayorkor Badger won the Best Commandant Research Paper Award with Lieutenant Commander Evans Kwame Adzakloe winning the 2nd Best and Squadron Leader Christina Barabara Jones-Mensah getting the 3rd Best Commandant’s Research Paper awards respectively.
Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Simweemba Chibbonta of Zambia bagged the Everard Award while Lieutenant Commander Kimotutemon Arnold Dimitir Koulagnan of the La Cote d’Ivoire Navy won the Most Improved Student Award.
Other awards were the Service Awards, which went to Lieutenant Commander Innocent Adzayawo of the Ghana Navy, Squadron Leader Victor Okanta Asiedu of the Ghana Air Force and Major Fred Darko-Ampem Konadu of the Ghana Army.
For the Master of Science in Defence and International Politics and Master of Science in Security Studies Class of 2025, Mr Peter Yandan Ali won the Best Dissertation Award with Mr Peter Acheampong Nkrumah Nimako winning the Overall Best Graduate Award.
The 5th edition of the African Journal of Defence, Security and Strategy, GAFCSC’s annual Journal was outdoored as part of the graduation ceremony.
By: Lily Brenda Gadugah