The Ghana Armed Forces established the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) in March 2023 to offer Strategic Courses for senior military officers of the rank of colonels or equivalent and relevant national agencies of the same status. This is based on the directive of the President of the Republic of Ghana, pursuant to section 29(1) of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act 2020 (Act 1023). Read more
Major General Irvine Nii-Ayitey Aryeetey was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 16 August 1986, and posted to the 69 Airborne Force in Northern Ghana. He proceeded to the US Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1991, where he was trained and certified as a Jumpmaster/Pathfinder/Instructor. Maj Gen Irvine Aryeetey has completed all mandatory career courses including the Junior Command and Staff Course in Nigeria (1995), Infantry Officer’s Advance Course in Fort Benning, Georgia, USA (1997), Senior Command and Staff Course at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (1999) and the US Army War College in Pennsylvania, USA (2015). Maj Gen Aryeetey has served in various capacities in the Ghana Armed Forces. These include, Instructor at the Jungle Warfare School, Directing Staff at the Army Combat Training School, Commanding Officer of the 69 Airborne Force, Directing Staff at the Senior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) and Di... Read more
Deputy Commandant
Brig Gen Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono was commissioned in 1992 at the Royal Military Academy-Sandhurst– United Kingdom. Military courses include: Higher Defence Management Course (India), Combating and Countering Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction at the George C. Marshall European Centre for Security Studies (Germany), Senior Staff Courses in Ghana and US Army Command and General Staff College and Junior Staff Course in Jaji (Nigeria) among others. Civilian qualifications are: Master of Management Studies (MMS) (India), LLM (Litigation and ADR)-George Washington University School of Law (USA), Professional Law Course-Ghana School of Law, LLB-GIMPA (Ghana), MA International Affairs-Legon and BSC Admin –Legon. Gen Tanye-Kulono has held several appointments in his military career including Dep Dir General Training GHQ, Director of Training, Chief Coordinator and Course Director- KAIPTC, Commander and Directing Staff, Army Combat Training School and Second in Command/Adjutant-Ghana Military Police. He has participated in UN peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Lebanon. He is married to Mabel and they are blessed with five children.
Chief Coordinator
Brigadier General AS Ogaja was commissioned into the Ghana Army as a Regular Officer on 12 August 1994 and posted to the 1st Infantry Battalion as his mother unit. He has completed all military mandatory career courses commensurate with his rank. These include Young Officers Course, Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), and Combat Team Commanders Course. He has also attended the following courses; Special Squad Operations Commanders Course – China, French Language Course – Canada, Battle Group Commanders Course – UK and National Defence College – Nigeria. Recent appointments held include Commanding Officer 1st Infantry Battalion, Director Accommodation at the General Headquarters, Director Army Peacekeeping Operations (Army Headquarters), Deputy Military Secretary and Deputy Director General Plans Research and Development at the General Headquarters. In terms of civil qualifications, Gen Ogaja holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Executive Master of Governance and Leadership Degree also from GIMPA. He also attended University of Ibadan, Nigeria where he obtained Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies. Additionally, Gen Ogaja is a product of the University of Ghana, Legon, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Sociology. He is married with children. His hobbies include playing volleyball, watching football, jogging and sleeping.
Senior Directing Staff
Brig Gen Fred Ntiri is a Senior Directing Staff at the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS). Before moving to the NCDS, he was the Deputy Commandant of the Ghana Military Academy, where he previously served as the Deputy Commander and the Chief Coordinator for various periods. He has also previously served as the Director responsible for Land Operations at the Joint Operations Department of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) General Headquarters. He held several appointments at the Department of Defence Intelligence from 2001 to 2012 and moved on to become the Commanding Officer of 1 Infantry Battalion at Michel Camp, Tema. Brig Gen Ntiri is a graduate of the US Army War College (2021), US Command and General Staff College (2007), Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (2005), Junior Staff College, Jaji-Kaduna (2003), Intelligence Officers’ Advance Course, Ft Huachuca-Arizona (2002) among other career courses. He holds a Master of Arts in Peace, Security and Intelligence, Masters in Strategic Studies, Masters in Military Art and Science (Strategy) and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics. Peacekeeping experiences include a fourteen-month tour with ECOMOG in Liberia, two six-month tours with UNIFIL, one tour with UNAMSIL, one-year tour each with UNOMIG and UNMISS, and two tours with UNOCI. Additionally, he commanded two different Ghana peacekeeping battalions to La Cote d’Ivoire and DR Congo in 2011 and 2014 respectively. He is married with two sons and a daughter and enjoys playing basketball, volleyball and handball. He is a strong advocate for the importance of intelligence in supporting decision making at all levels.
Senior Directing Staff
Air Commodore Fred Odoi-Wellington commissioned from the Ghana Military Academy in 1995 as a logistics officer. He is also a product of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Initial Officer Training School in Cranwell, United Kingdom. He attended the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in law and sociology. He also holds an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Ghana, Legon, and graduated from the Ghana School of Law, Accra as a Barrister at Law. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration. Air Commodore Odoi-Wellington has done all the military courses related to his trade. These include the Basic Logistics Officers Course in Nigeria and the Advanced Supply Course in San Antonio, Texas (USA). He attended the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College where he did both the junior and senior staff courses. He is a product of the National Defence University (Eisenhower School) USA, where he obtained a Master of Science Degree in National Resource Strategy. He has worked in various capacities as a logistics officer in the Ghana Air Force and the last appointment was the Director Supply. He was later appointed the Director General (Policy) at the General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces. He is married with three children.
Senior Directing Staff
Commodore (Cdre) Ben Baba Abdul was commissioned as an Acting Sub-Lieutenant in the Executive Branch of the Ghana Navy on 18 August 1995. He undertook his Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course in India in 1997, where he was trained and certified as a Watch-Keeping Officer. He further trained in Ghana and obtained an additional watch-keeping certificate for Fast Patrol Boats. Cdre Abdul is a proven leader with a strong educational background in multiple military and academic disciplines. He has completed all his mandatory naval professional career training, including a Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course in Venduruthy, India, a Junior Staff Course in Ghana (2003), a Staff Course at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Junior Division (GAFCSC-2007), and also Senior Command and Staff Course at GAFCSC (2007), Naval Staff Course (NSC) at the United States Naval War College (USNWC - 2008), and the Naval Command Course at the USNWC at Newport, Rhode Island in 2021. The Senior Officer holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and two master’s degrees in public administration and National Security and Strategic Studies from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the US Naval War College. He also holds a Post-Graduate Certificate and diploma in Public Administration, certificates in Conflict and Crisis Management, disaster management Course, Defence Management, Peace Operation, Intelligence, Security Sector Governance and Management (EZZ). Cdre Abdul is a highly experienced and dedicated naval officer who has served in various capacities in the Ghana Armed Forces and at the national level. These include Watch-Keeping, Executive, and Commanding officers onboard various Fast Patrol Boats in the Ghana Navy. He was also a Training Officer, Second in Command and Commanding Officer of Ghana Navy Basic and Leadership Training Schools at various periods in his career. Others include the commanding officer at Naval Bases, Command Operations Officer, Director of Naval Training, Assistant Chief of Staff, Personnel and Administration at the General Headquarters, The Flag Officer, Fleet, Flag Officer, Riverine Command, Deputy Chief Staff officer, Naval Policy and Plans. He was also a Directing Staff at the Junior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) and later Chief Instructor at the Senior Division. The officer was promoted to Commodore and posted as a Senior Directing Staff (SDS) at the National College of Defence Studies. Cdre Abdul has participated in peace support operations. Noticeably, observer missions in Darfur, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Logistic Rotational duties in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Officer is married to Isabella and has three adult children. The Commodores’ hobbies include listening to country music, watching documentaries and doing analytical research on contemporary security issues. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT Ghana).
Senior Directing Staff
Brigadier General Eric Kwame Boa-Amponsem was commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces Infantry Corps in 1994 after his initial training at the Ghana Military Academy. He has held various command and staff appointments in the GAF. Notable among them are, Instructor/ Chief Training Officer at the Ghana Military Academy, Assistant Director Army Operations and Deputy Army Secretary - Army Headquarters, Military Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff - GAF and Director Intelligence Training both at the General Headquarters. He has undertaken all mandatory military career courses commensurate with his rank. Among them are the Junior Staff and Senior Command and Staff Courses, at the Ghana Armed Forces Command & Staff College. He undertook his advance National Defence course at the Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom. He also undertook a comparative Company Commanders Course at the Infantry Institute, Cairo, Egypt. Colonel EK Boa-Amponsem holds a Master of Arts degree in International Security and Strategy from the King’s College London; a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration (Human Resource Management) from the University of Ghana, a Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Public Administration, all from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Colonel EK Boa-Amponsem has extensive peacekeeping experience. He has served on some Sub-Regional and United Nations Peace Support Operations in various capacities. These include the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Monitoring Group in Liberia, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone, United Nations Mission in Liberia, United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire and United Nations Mission in South Sudan. He is currently the Acting Chief Administrative Support at the National College of Defence Studies. He is married with two children.
Director Research & Development
Col Robert Kwegyir Sagoe graduated from the Ghana Military Academy on 21 August 1998. He was commissioned into the Ghana Army Infantry Corps and was posted to the 1st Infantry Battalion as a Platoon Commander. At the Battalion, he held Junior Command and Staff appointments namely Adjutant, Intelligence Officer and Officer Commanding. He has served as the Aide-De-camp (ADC) to the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Assistant Director Army Training (ADAT), Army Headquarters, an Instructor at Army Recruit Training School (ARTS) and Ghana Military Academy (GMA), General Staff Officer Grade II (GSOII) at the Headquarters Military Academy and Training Schools, Directing Staff at the Army Combat Training School (ACTS) and Command Operations Officer at the Headquarters Northern Command of the Ghana Army. He was the Deputy Director Intelligence Training and Chief Instructor at the Defence Intelligence Training Centre at the Department of Defence Intelligence, Deputy Director Land Operations at the Department of Joint Operations, Directing Staff and Chief instructor Academic Studies at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Junior Division. and later The Director Research and Development at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. He has attended all professional military education commensurate with his rank and service at both local and foreign military institutions. These include. junior staff course at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Combat Team Commanders course (Junior Command Course) at the Army War College, India, Senior Command and Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji Nigeria and the prestigious National Defense University’s National War College in the United States of America. He has also attended the United Nations infantry battalion commanders’ course in China and the Advanced Defence Intelligence Officers course at the Defence Intelligence College Nigeria. He holds a Doctorate degree in intelligence services, Master of Science degree in National security strategy, Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs and Defence Studies (MIADS), Master of Arts Degree in Conflict Peace and Security (MCPS), Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Sociology (BA Hons), Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration (PGDPA) and Diploma in Defence Management (Dip Def Mgt). He is an Associate Member of Nigerian Institute of Management (ANIM) and a member of ASIS International. He has served nine (9) peacekeeping tours in four (4) different UN missions/countries and held six (6) appointments namely Platoon Commander, Adjutant, Military Observer, Staff Officer and Deputy Commanding Officer/ Chief Operations Officer and Commanding Officer. His hobbies are swimming and listening to good music.
Director Finance
Col Martin Tettey-Matey was commissioned into the Ghana Army as a Regular Officer on 21st August 1998 and posted to the Forces Pay Regiment as his mother unit after his regimental training with the 2nd Infantry Battalion. He has completed all mandatory military career courses commensurate with his rank. These include Young Officers Course, Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), and Combat Team Commanders Course. He has also attended the following courses: Advance Motars Course, UN Logistics Officers’ Course, Accountant AI Course and Military Law Course. Recent appointments held include Deputy Director Pay and Account General Headquarters (Defence Financial Comptroller), Director Finance General Headquarters (Medical), Director Bills and Costing- General Headquarters (Defence Financial Comptroller) By way of Civil qualifications, Col Tettey-Matey holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and Administration from the University of Cape Coast. He also holds a Masters’ Degree in Peace Security and Intelligence (MPSI) from the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). The senior officer is married with children and his hobbies are Motorcycle riding and music.
Director Administration
Colonel George Oduro was commissioned into the Ghana Army Infantry Corps in August 1998 after completing the training at the Ghana Military Academy. Colonel Oduro is a professional military officer with extensive experience across all spheres of operations, management, administration, logistics, defence, security and strategy. He has served in various capacities in the 5th Battalion of Infantry, Headquarters Southern Command, 64 Infantry Regiment, Army Combat Training School, and the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. His last appointment before being posted to this College was as the Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President of Ghana, where he served for six and half years. He has undertaken all mandatory military career courses commensurate with his rank. Among them are the Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and Nuclear Chemical and Biological (NBC) Course in Germany. He also undertook his Advance National Defence Course at the Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom. George holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (Banking and Finance) from the University of Ghana, Legon. He also has a Master's Degree in Governance and Leadership and Post Graduate Diplomas in both Public Administration and Conflict and Crisis management, all from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Colonel Oduro also has a Master of Arts Degree in International Security and Strategy from the King's College London. He has had six tours of duty with the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) between 1999 and 2010 and a one-year tour with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) from 2014 to 2015. Colonel Oduro is married and has three children. He enjoys sports, music, and shopping.
Deputy Chief Coordinator
Col E Sosu is a Self-motivated and results-oriented professional in training, intelligence analysis, security operations and Conflict/Crisis Management. He has over 18 years of experience in Security, Leadership and Human Resource Management & Training. He holds a Professional Master’s Degree in Strategy, Defence, Security Conflicts and Disaster Management from the War College, Cameroon. Secondly, he holds a Master’s Degree in Security and Justice Administration from KNUST, Ghana and lastly a Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Defence Studies from Nigerian Defence Academy, Nigeria. Lt Col Sosu obtained his first degree from the University of Ghana in BSc Administration (Human Resource Management). He attended the Senior Command and Staff Officers’ Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigeria. For his Junior Staff Course, he attended the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC). He has held several appointments in his military career. Notable among them are General Staff Officer Grade I at the GAFCSC, Military Assistant to Deputy Force Commander UNIFIL, Directing Staff/Trainer at the Army Combat Training School, Acting Commanding Officer at the 4 Infantry Battalion and Deputy Commanding Officer of the same Unit. Also, he was the Deputy Chief Operations Officer at the Central Command, Ghana Army from 2014 to 2016, Instructor at the Ghana Military Academy from 2010 – 2014 and Operations Officer of Ghana Battalion in UNIFIL from 2009 - 2010. He held other appointments like Company Commander of the Airborne Force, Military Personnel Officer for UNMIL, and Military Information Officer/Interpreter in MONUC in 2004 – 2005. He has been awarded eight (8) United Nations Peace Medals of Service to Humanity and World Peace.
Director Logistics
Colonel Harry Keelson was born on 7 September 1974 in Kumasi. He attended Services Primary School in Burma Camp and later, St Anthony's Preparatory School from 1980 to 1986. He had his secondary education at Pope John's Secondary and Junior Seminary at Koforidua in the Eastern Region from 1986 to 1993 where he obtained both the Ordinary and Advance Level Certificates. He was enlisted into the Ghana Military Academy as a member of the Regular Career Course 38 on 10 October 1996. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 21 August 1998 and posted to the 1st Battalion of Infantry at Michel Camp for his Regimental Training and later to the Defence Mechanical Transport Battalion, Burma Camp. He has held the various appointments; Admin Officer and MTO at the Defence Mechanical Transport Battalion, Officer Commanding, 2 Supply Depot in Takoradi, Staff Captain A/Q at the Ghana Military Academy, Assistant Director Supplies and Transport in charge of Transport and the Deputy Director Supplies and Transport in charge of Movement duties at the Directorate of Supplies and Transport, Deputy Director for Supplies at the Directorate of Supplies and Transport and later appointed Commanding Officer Defence Mechanical Transport Battalion from June 21 to Feb 23. Until his appointment as the Director Logistics of the College he was the Chief Logistics Officer for the Army Special Operations Brigade. In his career path, he has attended such courses as the Mechanical Transport Officers Course, Fire Officers Course, Young Officers Course, Junior Staff Course, Combat Team Commanders Course and the Senior Staff Course at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. Other courses attended includes the Supply Troop Commanders Course in Germany, the Integrated Peace Support Operations Course in India, and the Peace Support Operations Course in Karen, Kenya. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration, Conflict and Crises Management Certificate, a Defence and Conflict Studies Certificate from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the Trainer of Trainers Course for Humanitarian Assistance in West Africa from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Ghana Legon and is a proud member of the Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners (IHRMP) in Ghana. He has a Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management from Coventry University in the United Kingdom.
IT Manager
Major Alfred Tetteh Azu is a serving military officer in the Ghana Army. He was enlisted into the Ghana Military Academy on 15 September, 2009 as part of Regular Career Course Intake 51. He was commissioned on 2 September 2011 into the Ghana Armed Forces Information Technology Corps and posted to the Fourth Infantry Battalion for his Regimental Training. Alfred has completed the Young Officers’ and Combat Team Commanders’ Courses at the Army Combat Training School. He has also completed the Junior Staff Course from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. Alfred holds an Honours Diploma in Information Technology and Business Skills and a BSc Degree in Information Technology. He holds several professional certifications. Notable amongst them are Digital Forensics Examiner, Certified Information Security Auditor, ISO 27001 Lead Implementer, Internet Governance, Digital Leadership and Digital Transformation for Leaders. He is a member of the Institute of ICT Professionals in Ghana. He has been deployed in various capacities since his commission. He has served in various United Nations peace support operations including Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of South Sudan and Lebanon.
ADC to Commandant
Captain Kwadwo Osafo Siaw-Adane was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 16 September 2016 into the Ghana Armed Forces and posted to the 69 Airborne Special Forces in Tamale, Northern Ghana. He had his basic airborne training in 2018 at the Unit to become a full fledge airborne officer worthy of the green beret. Capt KO Siaw-Adane as part of his developmental journey has attended numerous courses and trainings to shape his career path. Notable amongst them are, Close Quarter Battle training with the Israeli Defence Force in 2018, Pre-Survey and Parachute Packing Training at the Airborne Training School, Agra in India in 2018 where he was adjudged the best foreign student. Air Assault Training at the Airborne Training School in Egypt in 2019 where he was adjudged second best student on the course. Other courses and training he has attended include, Army Basic Intelligence Officer’s Course organised by Ghana Army in 2020, as well as Basic Intelligence Analyst Course co—organised by the 4th Military Intelligence Regiment from UK and the Defence Intelligence in Ghana in 2021 where he was adjudged the overall best student. Last but not least was the Joint Combined Exchange Training Programme organised by SF-ODA US Special Forces team in Ghana in 2021. Capt KO Siaw-Adane has held a couple of appointments in the course of his service to the colour, notable amongst them include, Platoon Commander Training and Combat Wing, Officer Commanding Bawku, Bolga, Wa and Cheriponi detachments, Unit Intelligence Officer, Officer Commanding Training, Combat, Admin and Special Forces Wing and finally Acting 2IC all in the 69 Airborne Special Forces Unit. He has had the opportunity to serve on the United Nations Mission in South Sudan from 2019- 2020 as part of a Peace Support Operation where he held appointments as the Liaison Officer and Platoon Commander of the Ghanaian Battalion during the period. Capt KO Siaw-Adane holds a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Science from the University of Ghana Legon, Master of Arts in International Relations and Security Studies from the University of Bradford UK and a certificate in Global Diplomacy and Governance from the European School for Leadership and Development. Capt KO Siaw-Adane until his appointment as ADC to the Commandant National College of Defence Studies was the acting Second-in-Command at the 69 Airborne Special Forces in Tamale, Northern part of Ghana. He likes playing basketball as a hobby
Registrar
Mr Baffour Ohene Asare-Bediako obtained the Master of Arts (MA) degree at the United Nations Regional Institute of Population Studies for Africa at the University of Ghana in 1987 and a Post-Graduate Certificate from the International Institute of Educational Planning and Administration of UNESCO in Paris, France in 1989. He served as a Project Officer of the Education Sector Project Management Unit for the implementation of the Ghana Education Reform Programmes. He served as Co-ordinator for the preparation of the “Free, Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) Programme” document for the implementation of the constitutional requirement for the Government of Ghana to provide “Free, Compulsory Universal Basic Education by the Year 2020” for all Ghanaian children of school-going age. Mr. Asare-Bediako served as the Lead Consultant for the FAWE-Ghana version of the Research on “Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRH&R)” commissioned by FAWE Africa Regional Secretariat (Kenya) conducted in six (6) FAWE (African) countries including Ghana. The FAWE-Ghana Validation Report was prepared and presented by Mr. Asare-Bediako at a forum at the British Council Hall in June 2011 which was attended by, among others, a representation of the Women Caucus in the Parliament of Ghana, Officials of the Education Sector, and relevant NGOs. Having served on the Tertiary Education landscape of Ghana from the position of Assistant Registrar at the University of Ghana to the position of Registrar, Mr. Asare-Bediako has played an active in role University Administration, setting up academic programmes in both public and private tertiary institutions, including serving as the Founding Administrator of the University of Ghana School of Engineering which celebrated its twentieth Anniversary in 2023.
Deputy Registrar
Mrs Alberta Dzifa Kwarteng is the Deputy Registrar of the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS). Prior to her appointment with the NCDS, she was an Assistant Registrar at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development where she oversaw the daily administration of the Department of General Studies. The early days of her career was with the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, where she served as administrative assistant and rose through the ranks to the rank of Assistant Registrar. She has ten (10) years working experience in tertiary education administration. Alberta holds a Master of Business Administration with option in Management Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Computer Science all from the University of Ghana, Legon. She is a Chartered professional administrator and an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Administrators and Management Consultants, Ghana. She is married with a child. Her hobbies include cooking and listening to music.
Dean
Professor John Akokpari, an Emeritus Professor, obtained his BA, MA and PhD from the University of Ghana, the International University of Japan and Dalhousie University (Canada), respectively. He taught at St Mary’s University (in Nova Scotia, Canada), and at the National University of Lesotho before joining the University of Cape Town. At the University of Cape Town, Professor Akokpari held high profile positions, including, Coordinator for Research and Seminars in the Department of Political Studies, Head of the Department, member of the the Masters Dissertations Examination Committee (MDEC), Chair of the Postgraduate Readmission Review Committee (PGRRC), and Director of the interdisciplinary research institute, the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa (IDCPPA). Professor Akokpari’s research interests are in African politics, focusing especially on civil society, democratisation, foreign policy, globalisation, international migration, Peace and Security, regionalism, the environment and Africa’s international relations. Professor Akokpari has published a number of articles in reputable international journals and also contributed chapters in books on these topics. Similarly, he has edited a number of books and has been a visiting professor at the Universities of Turin (Italy), Osaka (Japan), Beijing (China) and a visiting research fellow at the Institute of Developing Economies in Japan. Professor Akokpari serves on a member of editorial boards for a number of international scholarly journals as well as an external examiner for a number of African and extra-African universities. His hobbies include reading, watching sports and gospel musical videos.
Vice Dean
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Senior Directing Staff
Dr. Abdallah Imam Haruna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with the Study of Religions, a Master of Philosophy in African Studies (both from the University of Ghana), a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Wales, United Kingdom, and a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations at the Social Sciences University of Ankara, Turkey. His research and teaching focus on non-state actors in foreign policy decision making, social and political systems in Africa, foreign policy analysis, regional integration, democracy and good governance, international political economy, military and foreign policy in Ghana, colonialism and colonial land policy, and religion in the military. Dr. Imam has published in several peer-reviewed journals around the world, including the Nile Journal of Political Science, The Journal of International Relations Studies, Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, Afro-Eurasian Studies, and the European Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, among others. He completed a book based on tradition and religions in Africa, entitled “Tradition and Religion in Africa: Exploring the Changing Roles of the Tindana in Dagbon.” He has also co-authored a book titled “Migration and Social Safety Networks of Northern Region Migrants in Sodom and Gomorrah, Accra.” Currently, Dr. Imam is a Senior Lecturer at the National College of Defense Studies, Ghana. Prior to that, Dr Imam was an adjunct lecturer in African Studies at the Afrika Vakfı in Ankara, Turkey. He also doubles as a copy editor for one of the most respected academic journals in Turkey, Insight Turkey.
Senior Directing Staff
Dr Benjamin B. Jabik holds a Ph.D in Development Studies, a Master of Science in Development Policy and Planning and a Bachelor of Science in Development Planning. He is a development professional with extensive experience in research, performance management, capacity development, monitoring and evaluation in both local and international organizations. His research interest is in the areas of Sustainable Development; Climate Change and Security; Strategy and Development; Gender and Development; Development Programming; Monitoring and Evaluation; Micro and Small Enterprise Development and Livelihoods.
Senior Directing Staff
Dr Ebenezer Kwakye Agyemang is a retired commissioned senior officer of the Ghana Army. He has over two and half decades of experience in security and defence strategy, corporate risk leadership, and emergency and resilience management. He holds an Expert certificate in Counter-Insurgency and Low-Intensity Operations from the Ghana Armed Forces Jungle Warfare School. He is a parachutist. While in the military, he held various appointments including Platoon Commander, Company Commander, and Staff Officer for Intelligence, Operations, and Training at the Headquarters, Northern Command, now HQ Central Command). He also participated in five UN peacekeeping missions in UNIFIL, in the Middle East, UNAMSIL and UNMIL in West Africa and MONUC in East Africa. The appointments held with UN peacekeeping included Military Observer, Company Commander and Assistant Operations Officer, Deputy Commanding Officer and Chief Operations Officer, Company Commander and twice as Platoon Commander. He was also a Directing Staff at the Ghana Army Combat Training School, - the highest tactical training institution in the Ghana Army for over half a decade. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Honours), degree from the University of Ghana in Geography and Resource Development with Political Science. He also holds a double Master’s degree in Business Administration and Applied Business Research from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and SBS Swiss Business School respectively. He holds a post graduate Certificate in Public Administration from GIMPA and Contemporary Management from Nobel International Business School, all in Ghana. He is a graduate of the prestigious Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (Senior Division). He is an alumnus of Ghana Military Academy, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Florida State University, Cranfield University, Red-R-UK, Academy for Conflict Transformation-Germany, and Helsinki Espana (Human Dimension) – Spain. Eben obtained his Doctor of Business Administration from SBS Swiss Business School, Zurich Switzerland, where his cross-discipline research into the value chain in the extractive industry was adjudged ‘Maxime Practica Propositum’. He also awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa by Institut Universitaire La Grace (Ecole Benin). Apart from numerous presentations, he has authored many books including Decoding 2019 Novel Coronavirus published by Blue Rose in India, Leadership and Discipline; From Battlespace to Boardroom, published by Black Mask in Ghana and Trans-National Organised Crime and Terrorism- An Emerging Security Challenge in West Africa, published by EPP Services in Ghana. He has worked in the security and risk management teams of five multinational organizations. As a service to humanity, Eben established some not-for-profit institutions where he was the Chief Education Officer of Retina Training Group, Partner, Mining Intelligence and Investigations Group, Team Lead, Centre for Risk and Resilience Management and Non-Executive President of Crossbridge Leadership Institute. He is a network member of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime and a Fellow, of the Chartered Institute of Leadership and Governance - USA. He was the 2nd Runner Up, of the Institute’s Ghana Chapter Leadership award for the year 2022. Eben is married with children and enjoys giving back to humanity through leadership training and empowerment.
Librarian
Mr Akwasi Boakye is a professional librarian and a chartered member of the Ghana Library Association. He brings over thirteen years of experience in library automation across numerous academic libraries in Ghana. Akwasi is highly skilled in digital literacy instructions, adding significant value to his role. He holds both a Master of Arts in Information Studies and a Master of Science in Management Information Systems. His expertise in library management systems, coupled with his certifications as a Microsoft Certified Educator and a Microsoft Office Specialist (MS Excel), underscores his dedication to enhancing library systems and improving access to educational resources. .
Senior Directing Staff
Dr. Felix Danso is an academic with a wealth of experience in the field of Development Studies and International Relations. Holding a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Fort Hare, South Africa, a Master of Science (MSc) from the Open University, UK, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Ghana. Dr. Danso has previously consulted for USAID West Africa. He was a Council Member of the Governing Council of the Development Studies Association (U.K) and a Co-convener of the African Chapter of the same Association. With a passion for teaching and research, Dr. Felix Danso has dedicated several years to academia, imparting knowledge and expertise to students at prestigious institutions such as Ghana Christian University, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and most recently, as the Head of Department of International Relations at Webster University, Ghana Campus. Dr. Danso has contributed significantly to the academic community through his research endeavors, with numerous papers published in esteemed peer-reviewed journals. His research interests encompass a wide range of topics within the field of Development Studies and International Relations, reflecting his commitment to advancing scholarly understanding in these dynamic disciplines.
NCDS holds its graduation ceremony for Course I-2023 on 16th November, 2024. You can also dowload The Strategist Magazine here
National College of Defence Studies, The Strategist Magazine, 16th November 2024.