Major General William Agyapong

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 courtesy visit to him at the Presidency in Accra by the Chief of Defence Staff.

The new Chief of Defence Staff and his team paid the courtesy 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 in prioritizing and motivating officers, soldiers, and the Defence civilian staff.

This, he said, was the surest way to enable the Ghana Armed Forces to defend democracy, safeguard the country’s 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 will provide you with the needed resources to enhance your capabilities and operational efficiency while ensuring your welfare every step of the way.”

The President congratulated Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on achieving another first as the first female Chairperson of the Ghana Armed Forces Council.

He also congratulated Major General William Agyapong, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Service Chiefs on their new appointments.

“Having been legitimately appointed in consultation with the Council of State and 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 in ensuring long-term planning, operational readiness, and professionalism in dealing with emerging and existing threats.”

President Mahama also urged 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.

He added that as the economy is turned around, they could rest assured that their budgetary allocation would further increase, enabling them to secure new and additional platforms and assets to enhance their operations.

He also tasked them to explore innovative financing methods to improve infrastructure and training, especially concerning accommodation for their troops, saying, “I will be by your side every step of the way.”

President Mahama said that the Government was already planning to upgrade the Asutsuare Training Camp into a first-class training facility.

He noted that the military was currently saddled with a debt of approximately GH¢3.7 billion but expressed confidence that with innovation, commitment, and perseverance, they would expand and modernize the Ghana Armed Forces.

He added that the Government was already working to address the imminent food crisis that could have hit the Ghana Armed Forces due to an outstanding debt of GH¢275 million owed to food suppliers since August 2023—17 long months.

He assured that the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Defence were working to settle current bills while implementing additional measures to clear the outstanding debts.

Additionally, the President emphasized that the Ghana Armed Forces should contribute to agricultural development in Ghana through the Defence Industries Holding Company Limited. This, he said, would leverage the disciplined workforce and strategic land holdings of this partnership to enhance food security in the country.

He expressed confidence that the Defence Industries Holding Company would excel in garment and footwear manufacturing, vehicle assembly, pharmaceutical production, and agro-processing.

President Mahama acknowledged the military’s deployment in Bawku and other areas for internal security operations to address 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 peace, and I trust you to deliver,” he said.

The President expressed confidence that Major General Agyapong and his team would work tirelessly to ensure that the nation’s Armed Forces serve with unity, resilience, and pride.

He further wished the new Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs a successful tenure as they worked loyally and diligently as a united team to protect and defend Ghana.

On his part, Major General William Agyapong, the Chief of Defence Staff, reaffirmed the Ghana Armed Forces’ unflinching loyalty to the Constitution, the State, and President John Dramani Mahama, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.

He reassured the President that under his guidance, they would provide the right leadership to strengthen the Ghana Armed Forces, secure the country, and protect its territorial integrity by land, sea, and air.

This version corrects grammatical errors, improves sentence structure, and enhances clarity while maintaining the original meaning. Let me know if you need any further refinements.