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The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Lt General Oppong Peprah, yesterday called on the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Jinapor, to discuss issues of education within the GAF.
The visit was also to strengthen the existing relationship between the two institutions and to also express appreciation to GTEC for the warm congratulatory message extended to him upon his appointment as CDS.
“During my tenure, I would love for us to continue with this collaboration and I look forward to all the assistance you would be able to give us,” the CDS said, adding that he would continue to count on GTEC as a development partner.
Lt General Peprah, who led a high-powered delegation to the meeting, commended GTEC for the instrumental role it played in providing the Armed Forces with institutional and academic accreditation starting with the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.
“Additionally, you have been able to help us commence PhD programmes and other related courses at various institutions of GAF.
And I know that you are also making every effort to help us obtain a Presidential Charter for the establishment of the National Defence University,” Lt General Peprah, added.
Prof. Jinapor affirmed that “for us, our job is to make sure the necessary infrastructure and quality assurance are in place”.
He, however, said GTEC would work towards ensuring that the National Defence University came into reality, “and not just that, but under your tenure”.
Prof. Jinapor mentioned the National Defence College in Uganda, the Nigeria Defence Academy, the National Defence University of Kenya, and the National Defence Academy of Washington in the US as some of such institutions.
“So, this is not something that is new. Informed by the security concerns within the West African sub-region, it is even more necessary for us to have a National Defence University at this particular point in time,” he said.
The Director-General of GTEC, however, said: “It should not more or less serve as a foundation for other paramilitary or security agencies to run to GTEC for the establishment of same”.
Prof. Jinapor further cautioned against running programmes other than the courses and domain a university was mandated to provide.
“We do not want a situation whereby tomorrow, we will hear that you are running military nursing, military Twi or military Dagbani, or you are setting up satellite campuses all over the country.
“We would not accept that,” he added.
