By Iddi Yire
Accra, March 28, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, has charged Major General William Agyapong, the new Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces to be resolute in his leadership of the military.
“Effect courageous changes based on professionalism, if need be,” President Mahama stated in his remarks during a complimentary visit to him at the Presidency in Accra by the Chief of Defence Staff.
The new Chief of the Defense Staff and his team paid the complimentary visit to the President as a sign of their unalloyed loyalty and appreciation to the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and the State.
Major General Agyapong was accompanied by Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu, the Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, Chief of Naval Staff, Air Vice Marshal Eric Agyen-Frempong, Chief of Air Staff and Air Vice Marshal Joshua Lartei Mensah-Larkai, Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.
President Mahama urged the Service Chiefs to work as a loyal, dedicated and united team of generals led by Major General Agyapong, the Chief of Defence Staff.
He further charged them to support the Defence Minister to prioritise and motivate officers and soldiers and the Defence civilian staff.
This, he said, was the surest way to enable the Ghana Armed Forces to defend our democracy and our territorial integrity and strengthen internal peace and security, including supporting the ongoing fight against illegal mining.
“On my part as your Commander-in-Chief, I provide you with the needed resources to enhance your capabilities and operational efficiency while seeking your welfare every step of the way.”
The President congratulated Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang for chalking another first, the first female Chairperson of the Ghana Armed Forces Council.
He also congratulated Major General William Agyapong, Chief of the Defence and the Service Chiefs on their new appointments.
“Having been legitimately appointed in consultation with the Council of States and having been promoted to the rank of Two-Star Generals in the Ghana Armed Forces on Monday,
March 24, 2025, I hereby charge you to discharge your duties without fear or favor. You have my full backing and support,” he said.
The President added: “As members of the Armed Forces Council, I expect you to support Madam Chairperson to see to the long-term planning, operational readiness and professionalism in dealing with emerging and existing threats.”
President Mahama said he also expected them to adopt cost-effective and efficiency-enhancing measures as they manage the nation’s security within the context of a constrained economy.
“We will continue to work to improve the conditions of service of our men and women in the security services,” he said.
The President noted that this year, the Government had allocated over GH¢6.7 billion to the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces.
Adding that as they turn the economy around, they could rest assured that their budgetary allocation would further increase to enable them secure new and additional platforms and assets in order to enhance their operations.
He also tasked them to explore innovative financing means to improve infrastructure and training, especially in respect of accommodation for their troops; saying “I will be by your side every step of the way”.
President Mahama said already, the Government was planning to upgrade the Asutsuare Training Camp into a first-class training facility.
He said currently, they know that the military was saddled with a debt of approximately GH¢3.7 billion, and that however, with innovation, commitment, and perseverance, they shall expand and modernise the Ghana Armed Forces.
He said they were already working to fix the imminent food crisis that could have hit the Ghana Armed Forces due to the indebtedness of GH¢275 million owed to their food suppliers since August 2023, 17 long months.
He said the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Defence were working to settle current bills while implementing additional measures to clear the outstanding debts.
He said in addition to these interventions, the Ghana Armed Forces should also contribute to agricultural development in Ghana through the Defence Industries Holding Company Limited, to leverage the disciplined workforce and strategic land holdings of this partnership to enhance food security in the country.
The President said, he trusts that the Defence Industries Holding Company would excel in garment and footwear manufacturing, vehicle assembly, pharmaceutical production and agro-processing.
President Mahama said military personnel had been deployed in Bawku and other areas for several internal security operations to deal with issues including ethnic and chieftaincy disputes.
“While we address these disputes through mediation efforts, judicial interventions, and community-based conflict resolution mechanisms, the Ghana Armed Forces will still have to play its part in maintaining the peace, and I trust you to deliver,” he said.
The President said, he was confident that Major General Agyapong and his team would all work tirelessly to ensure that the nation’s Armed Forces serve with unity, with resilience and pride.
He further wished the new Chief of Defence Staff and the chiefs of the Ghana Armed Forces a successful tenure as they worked loyally and diligently as a united team to protect and defend their dear nation, Ghana.
On his part, Major General William Agyapong, the Chief of Defence Staff, reaffirmed the Ghana Armed Forces unflinching loyalty to the Constitution, to the State, and to President John Dramani Mahama, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.
reassured the President that under his guidance, they would provide the right leadership that they need to be able to make the Ghana Armed Forces strong, to be able to secure the country and protect its territorial integrity by land, sea and air.
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