By Christiana Afua Nyarko, GNA
Accra, Dec. 13, GNA – Professor Kwesi Anning, Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has said moral integrity must be the cornerstone of leadership.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for military officers of the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) in Accra, he underscored moral integrity, accountability, responsiveness and transparency as essential pillars of effective leadership and smart governance.
“In a world beset by transactional politics and competing self-interests, moral integrity must be the cornerstone of leadership,” he said.
Prof. Anning urged the graduands to translate academic knowledge into ethical public service and responsible leadership.
He said true service required doing what was right even when unpopular, adding that simplicity, integrity, accountability, responsiveness and transparency were operational duties that should guide governance across civil and military institutions.
“Moral integrity in public office is not a luxury… it is the foundation on which effective leadership and sustainable development must be built,” he noted.
The graduating class comprised 26 military officers from the Ghana Armed Forces, Nigerian Armed Forces and the Rwanda Defence Force.
Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, former Chief of the Defence Staff, stressed that strategic leadership was a shared national responsibility.
He said leadership transcended institutional boundaries and required collaboration between military and civilian actors to address peace, governance and security challenges across the continent.
Vice Admiral Amoama encouraged continued inclusive professional military education to strengthen civil‑military understanding and national resilience.
Drawing on his experience, he urged future leaders to apply critical thinking and strategic foresight in navigating complex and uncertain environments.
Brigadier General Frederick Kwaku Dankyi, Acting Commandant of the NCDS, highlighted the college’s progress since its establishment in 2023 as a centre for higher professional military education.
He said the curriculum, which blends international relations, defence policy, decision‑making and experiential research, was designed to prepare officers and senior public officials for strategic leadership roles in a volatile environment.
He added that participant‑led panels and position papers on national and international issues had enhanced critical thinking, analytical rigour and intellectual independence.
The National College of Defence Studies, established in 2023, provides advanced professional military education and strategic leadership training for senior officers, selected civil servants, and allied partners.
Its multi-disciplinary curriculum covers defence policy, international relations, project management and strategic decision‑making, with experiential research serving as a key component linking theory to real‑world security and governance challenges.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey