Ghana’s army gets new leadership

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Following the completion of the tour of duty and subsequent retirement from the Ghana Armed Forces of Major General William Ayamdo, the Chief of Army Staff, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has, in consultation with the Council of State, appointed Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, as the new Chief of Army Staff, effective Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah is currently the Chief of Staff at General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces.

A press statement signed and issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin, announcing the new appointment said on the recommendation of the Armed Forces Council, President Akufo-Addo has appointed Commodore Issah Adams Yakubu as the new Chief of Staff at General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces to succeed Major General Oppong-Peprah, effective Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

Below is the full statement:

About Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah

Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah was commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces in 1986 as part of Regular Career Course 26 and was posted to the Armour Recognisance Regiment.

His civil educational qualifications include a Master of Arts in International Security and Strategy from Kings College, London ( 2013 – 2014) and an Executive Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) from University of Ghana, Legon (2006 – 2007).

He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration (Human Resource Management) from the University of Ghana (1999 – 2004) and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (1998).

Major General Oppong-Peprah has undertaken several career progression courses. These include Defence Studies at the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, United Kingdom (2013 – 2014), Senior Intelligence Course at the Joint Intelligence Centre, Strasbourg, France (2010), Law of Combating Terrorism at the Defence Institute of International Legal Studies, Newport, Rhode Island, USA (2009) and Senior Command and Staff Course at the US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA (2000-2001).

Other career progression courses undertaken are Senior Command and Staff Course at Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Accra (1998 – 1999), Junior Command and Staff Course at the Command and Staff College, Kaduna, Nigeria (1997) and Armour Officer Basic Course at the US Army Armour School, Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA (1996).

Appointments held in the course of his career include Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of the Defence Staff, Ghana Armed Forces (1995 – 1997), Operations/Training Officer, 64 Infantry Regiment, (1999 – 2000).

He was the Commanding Officer, 64 Infantry Regiment from 2002 to 2009, with additional appointments as Commanding Officer, Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, (2004-2005), Coordinator, State Transport Security (2001 – 2008) and Instructor, Disaster Management Course, Army Combat Training School, Teshie (2001-2005).

Other appointments held are Director, Strategic Intelligence Assessment, Defence Intelligence Department, General Headquarters (2009-2011), Director Operations and Plans, Defence Industries Department, General Headquarters (2011 – 2013), Director Army Training (Sep 14 to Feb 16) and Director Army Peacekeeping Operations (Feb – Jul 16) Chief Staff Officer, Army Headquarters (Jul 16 –Feb 17).

Prior to his current appointment as the Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters, he was the General Officer Commanding, Southern Command of the Ghana Army (Feb 17 – Jan 19).

In peacekeeping, he has served as Humanitarian Officer, United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (June-December 1994), Military Observer, United Nations Aouzou Strip Observer Group in Libya/Chad (March-May 1994), G4 Transport and Plans, United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara – 1993 and Detachment Second-In-Command/Troop Leader, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon/Israel (1987, 1989, 1992)

He is a Board member of the Governing Council of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

Major General Oppong-Peprah is married with five (5) children. He enjoys horse riding, soccer, travelling, watching movies and jogging.

Source: Daily Mail GH