A nine-member delegation from the National Defence University (NDU), led by the Chairman of its Governing Council, Professor John Owusu Gyapong, has paid a familiarisation visit to the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
The visit aimed to familiarise the delegation with the operations of the college and explore opportunities for collaboration, particularly in harmonising academic programmes and sharing resources among NDU's constituent colleges.
In his welcome address, the Commandant of GAFCSC, Major General (Maj Gen) Jackson Wonje welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the importance of the visit in strengthening cooperation between the College and NDU. He highlighted the engagement as an opportunity to deepen institutional ties and explore areas of mutual interest.
The Chief Coordinator of GAFCSC, Colonel (Col) George Oduro subsequently took the delegation through a PowerPoint presentation covering the historical overview of the College, its mission, vision, aim, objectives and core values, as well as its organisational structure, academic and military programmes, and pending expansion projects. He highlighted the College's development since its establishment in 1976 and its role in preparing military officers for command, staff and leadership responsibilities in Ghana and across Africa.
Col Oduro also outlined the College's expansion into higher academic education, including Masters and PhD programmes in defence, security, and international politics, alongside its established military courses. He briefed the delegation on ongoing and planned development projects to mark the college's 50th anniversary.
In his remarks, the Governing Council chair Professor (Prof) John Owusu Gyapong congratulated the leadership of GAFCSC and acknowledged the contributions of previous leaders to the development of the institution. Recalling his earlier association with the College while serving as Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, he expressed pleasure at returning in his current capacity. He emphasised the need for NDU's constituent colleges to harmonise similar academic programmes and share lecturers and other resources to reduce duplication, improve efficiency, and maximise available expertise. He added that the process would require cooperation and continued engagement among the Governing Council, advisory boards, and the constituent colleges.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of NDU, AVM Felix Nana Adom Asante highlighted the importance of capacity building and access to higher education, drawing attention to scholarship opportunities through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). He encouraged eligible personnel pursuing further studies to apply through the appropriate channels, explaining that applications could support individuals and their institutions, subject to the applicable requirements. He also addressed concerns about programme duration and eligibility, particularly for shorter courses, and urged eligible Senior Division personnel to take advantage of the scholarship application window before the expected deadline of 27 November 2026.
The visit concluded with Professor Gyapong formally presenting the Acts of Parliament establishing the National Defence University to the Commandant of GAFCSC, symbolising the continued engagement between the two institutions.
By Cpl Dakudji O Majorie