The Ghana Armed Forces established the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) in May 2023 to offer Strategic Courses for senior military officers of the rank of Colonel or equivalent and relevant national agencies of the same status. This establishment was 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).
The College is a Tri-Service Institution designed to impart skills in strategic leadership, contemporary management thought, concepts, and practices. It aims to lead effective decision-making, enlightened leadership, and efficient resource management in a knowledge-centric environment. The NCDS has been granted institutional and programme accreditations by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and is currently mentored by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Our Vision: To uphold the institution as a Centre of Excellence in Africa and the world for nurturing strategic leaders to marshal the instruments of power to meet the security and developmental needs of their countries.
Our Mission: To prepare selected military officers, senior officers from other security agencies and government officials for strategic leadership and management roles.
The College is led by the Commandant, Maj Gen Fred Ntiri, supported by the Deputy Commandant, Brig Gen Eric Kojo Konadu, and a dedicated team of Directing Staff, academic, and administrative faculty. The leadership is committed to upholding the college's motto of "Ingenuity and Strategy" and ensuring the delivery of high-quality professional military education at the strategic level.
The National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) grounds its identity in the motto “Ingenuity and Strategy”, symbolised by the Adinkra “Dame Dame”, which represents intelligent thinking and strategic foresight. This philosophy underpins the College’s mission to develop senior leaders capable of addressing complex national security and development challenges.
Each course adopts a specific theme to reflect contemporary strategic realities:
These themes serve as the intellectual foundation for all activities, including lectures, strategic exercises, and field studies. They also guide participant research, ensuring that dissertations and syndicate projects contribute directly to strategic decision-making and national development. By integrating these themes into a practical curriculum, NCDS develops transformational leaders who are strategically minded and ethically grounded, equipped to promote sustainable peace and effective governance globally.