The National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) on Friday, December 12, 2025, graduated 26 participants from its Course 2–2025 at a ceremony held at Burma Hall, Burma Camp, marking another milestone in the College’s short but evolving history.
The graduating class was made up of 20 officers drawn from the Ghana Armed Forces, representing the Army, Navy and Air Force. The cohort also included participants from allied nations—Nigeria, Rwanda and Zambia—as well as three female participants from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), reflecting the College’s growing regional and inter-agency outlook.
The course was conducted under the theme, “Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent (SMART) Governance for Sustainable Development,” a focus that framed academic work, strategic discussions and policy-oriented research undertaken by participants over the period of training.
Delivering the keynote address, the Guest of Honour, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama (Rtd), former Chief of the Defence Staff and former Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria, praised the College for recording notable progress despite operational and resource-related challenges. He described the achievements of NCDS within its first two years as evidence of commitment, discipline and institutional resolve.
Vice Admiral Amoama (Rtd) noted that since its establishment, the College has trained a total of 45 participants, a feat he attributed to determination and sustained effort by both staff and leadership. He described the creation of the College as a strategic and cost-effective national investment in security and governance capacity.
He explained that before the establishment of NCDS, only a limited number of senior officers had the opportunity to pursue strategic-level training abroad, mainly in countries such as Nigeria, China and the United Kingdom. According to him, that arrangement placed financial strain on the state and limited access to advanced strategic education for many officers.
Touching on the evolving global and regional security environment, Vice Admiral Amoama (Rtd) stressed that modern security challenges—including insurgency, border threats, terrorism and transnational crime—require leaders who are strategically grounded. He emphasised the importance of developing leaders capable of critical thinking, decisive action, anticipation of emerging threats and the analysis of complex security and governance issues.
At the ceremony, participants were awarded the Master of Arts in Strategic Studies (MSS), while the professional title of Fellow of the National College of Defence Studies (FNCDS) was conferred on them by the Deputy Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Ebenezer Adraku, under whose academic oversight the programme is run.
Outstanding performance among the graduating class was recognised through a number of special awards. The Major General Joseph Smith Award for Best in Strategic Leadership was presented to Colonel Agbeko. Captain Bamba of the Ghana Navy received the Vice Admiral Seth Amoama Award, while the Presidential Award for Best Dissertation was won by Colonel Mohammed, in recognition of his research work.
Earlier, the Acting Commandant of NCDS, Brigadier General Frederick Dankyi Ntiri, highlighted the operational realities confronting the College, noting that as a relatively new institution, it continues to grapple with financial and infrastructural limitations. He appealed to government for increased funding support to strengthen academic delivery and institutional development.
Brigadier General Ntiri also called on benevolent organisations and partners to assist the College in acquiring a permanent structure, explaining that adequate infrastructure would enhance training capacity and long-term sustainability. He noted that despite existing constraints, the College has managed to graduate 45 participants within two years of operation.
He expressed appreciation to Higher Command for its continuous support and acknowledged the presence and contributions of key stakeholders, including the Deputy Minister of Defence, Hon. Ernest Brogya Genfi; the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong; the Service Chiefs; senior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces; the Deputy Rector of GIMPA; and other invited guests.
As part of the ceremony, a commemorative plaque was presented to the first Commandant of the National College of Defence Studies, Major General Irvine Nii Ayitey Aryeetey (Rtd), in recognition of his foundational role and meritorious service to the establishment and growth of the College.
