Deputy Defence Minister Pushes GAFCSC to Become West Africa’s Frontline Think‑Tank on Emerging Security Threats
Deputy Minister for Defence Brogya Gyamfi says the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) must evolve beyond its traditional role of training officers and transform into a strategic institution capable of anticipating, shaping and preventing emerging security threats across West Africa.
Delivering his remarks through the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. William Agyapong, at the College’s 50th Anniversary Republic Day Lecture on June 25, the Deputy Minister said the region’s increasingly complex security environment demands military institutions that do more than produce competent officers — they must also drive policy, innovation and strategic foresight.
The lecture, themed “From Sahel to the Gulf: Violent Extremism and Maritime Insecurity in West Africa,” formed part of GAFCSC’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Reflecting on the College’s founding, Gyamfi said its establishment 50 years ago was a bold declaration of Ghana’s confidence in its ability to train its own strategic leaders rather than rely on foreign institutions.
“That decision was an act of faith in Ghana’s potential… faith that the continent did not need to outsource its strategic thinking. Half a century later, that faith has been fully vindicated,” he said.
He noted that while the College has excelled in developing indigenous military leadership, the next phase of its evolution must be driven by innovation, transformation and proactive security thinking.
“The next 50 years will demand an institution that does not merely train officers but transforms leaders… one that does not simply respond to security threats but anticipates them, shapes them and, where possible, prevents them,” he stated.
Gyamfi warned that worsening insecurity in the Sahel and rising maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea underscore the urgency of strengthening institutions capable of producing forward‑thinking military leaders.
Describing GAFCSC as a critical pillar in Ghana’s response to regional instability, he expressed confidence that its Golden Jubilee marks the beginning of a new chapter — one that positions the College as a continental centre of excellence for strategic military education.
He urged stakeholders to support the institution’s transformation so it can continue serving as a beacon of strategic leadership and security innovation for Ghana and Africa.
— CitiNewsRoom