President Mahama Commissions New Officers into Ghana Armed Forces

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has commissioned a new batch of officer cadets into the Ghana Armed Forces, following the successful completion of their training at the Ghana Military Academy (GMA).

The commissioning ceremony, which covered Officer Cadets of Regular Career Course (RCC) 64 and Short Service Commission/Special Duties (SSC/SD) Intake 62, took place on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Ranger Baba Parade Square, Whistler Barracks in Teshie.

Addressing the parade, President Mahama praised the cadets for their impressive display of precision, discipline and confidence, describing it as clear evidence of the high standards of training at the Academy. He commended the Military High Command, the Commandant and staff of the Ghana Military Academy for successfully transforming civilians into capable officers ready to serve the nation.

The President noted that the commissioning comes at a critical time, as the security environment within the sub-region continues to evolve, with emerging threats such as violent extremism, terrorism and transnational organised crime, particularly along Ghana’s northern borders. He stressed that safeguarding national security is a shared responsibility and urged Ghanaians to remain vigilant and support the country’s security agencies.

Touching on Ghana’s role in international peace support operations, President Mahama disclosed that the country currently contributes troops to 15 missions under the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS. He commended Ghanaian peacekeepers for their professionalism and reaffirmed government’s commitment to transparency, fairness and merit-based selection for peacekeeping deployments. He also highlighted Ghana’s progress in promoting gender inclusion, noting that female participation in peace operations continues to surpass United Nations benchmarks.

The Commander-in-Chief announced a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces. These include the acquisition of new helicopters to enhance air mobility and rapid response, the restoration of grounded aircraft, the construction of a multi-purpose sports complex, and the rollout of a housing programme expected to provide 10,000 housing units for GAF personnel over the next five years.

In addition, President Mahama revealed plans to recruit about 12,000 new personnel into the Ghana Armed Forces within the next three years. He explained that the recruitment exercise will be supported by the establishment of forward operating bases in strategic border areas to reinforce national defence and security.

The President reminded the newly commissioned officers that leadership requires responsibility, service and sacrifice. He urged them to uphold integrity, demonstrate courage in the face of adversity, show compassion in command, and remain loyal to the Constitution and the Republic of Ghana.

He congratulated the graduating cadets and award recipients for their outstanding performance in leadership, academics and military training, and reaffirmed government’s commitment to maintaining a professional, disciplined and well-equipped Ghana Armed Forces.

The colourful ceremony was attended by members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Service Chiefs, heads of other security agencies, defence attachés, personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, families of the graduating cadets and other distinguished guests. The event marked the successful completion of the cadets’ rigorous military and academic training, with outstanding cadets receiving awards for excellence.