Major General Obed Akwa handing over the staff to Major General William Ayamdo as the incoming chief of army staff
Major General Obed Boamah Akwa, the outgoing Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), who is also the acting Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has officially handed over to Major General William Ayamdo, the new Chief of the Army Staff.
Major General Akwa, who was appointed as the Chief of the Army Staff on July 7, 2016, took over from Major General Richard Opoku Adu.
He was recently appointed as the Acting CDS by President Nana Akufo-Addo and will be taking over from Air Mashall Samson Oje.
At a colourful handing over ceremony, Major General Akwa told officers and personnel of the Army that he was leaving them in the hands of a true professional, colleague and friend.
He said as Acting CDS, he would make sure that problems confronting the garrisons are solved.
“When I took over as the Chief of Army Staff, I had the opportunity to visit all the garrisons and took note of all your problems, including accommodation, sanitation, water, power and others, and I assure you that as the acting CDS, I will put in pragmatic steps to address all these issues.
“I am leaving you in the hands of a true professional, great soldier, and the president and commander-in-chief could not have appointed a better person than him and so I ask for your cooperation for him to succeed.”
He advised personnel to endeavor to constantly sharpen their military skills to make them ready for the task ahead, project the image of the Army in all places and manage the scarce resources prudently at all times.
Major General William Ayamdo trained together with the Acting Chief of Defence Staff at the Ghana Military Academy and the Royal Military Academy in the United Kingdom.
He has held various appointments, including the commanding officer of the infantry and the director general in charge of Defence and Intelligence.
Prior to his appointment, he was the commandant of the Ghana Military Academy and Training School.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey