By Christiana Afua Nyarko
Accra, July 23, GNA – Mr Alphonse Quainoo, Deputy Commissioner of Customs in charge of Post Clearance Audit, Thursday underscored the need for stronger collaboration among state institutions, saying no single agency possesses all the capabilities required to address Ghana’s evolving defence and security challenges.
The increasingly sophisticated nature of modern security threats demanded a coordinated national response involving both security and civilian institutions to ensure effective defence management, he said.
Mr Quainoo made the remarks at the closing ceremony of the Defence Management Course 2026 at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) in Accra.
Delivering the closing address, he said defence management extended beyond military operations and required ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to work together in translating defence policies into practical action through sustainable planning, logistics and infrastructure.
“The effective coordination of the efforts of agencies involved in finding solutions to security challenges is a fundamental success factor,” he said.
Mr Quainoo urged participants to sustain the professional networks established during the course and continue sharing information to strengthen collaboration among their institutions.
He said sound defence management also promoted good governance by ensuring transparency, accountability and the prudent use of national resources in pursuit of national security objectives.
He encouraged participants to serve as ambassadors of the knowledge acquired by sharing lessons from the course with colleagues to broaden its impact.
The Deputy Commissioner commended the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College for bringing together personnel from diverse institutions to deliberate on critical national security issues and urged MDAs to continue supporting such capacity-building programmes.
He also acknowledged the participation of military officers from Benin, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Togo, saying their diverse operational experiences enriched discussions throughout the programme.
In separate interviews with the Ghana News Agency, participants said the course had deepened their understanding of multi-agency collaboration and would enhance their professional performance.
Revenue Officer Nyavor Elikem of the Ghana Customs Division said the programme reinforced the importance of cooperation between security and civilian institutions in protecting Ghana’s borders.
He said the knowledge gained would enable him to better appreciate the complementary roles of various agencies in safeguarding national security.
Mr Joenal Nang, Director of Research at the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), said the course had equipped him with defence and military strategies applicable to disaster risk management.
He said the training would strengthen his capacity to protect lives and property during emergencies and appealed for more officers to be given the opportunity to participate in future editions.
The nine-day Defence Management Course, organised by the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, is designed to strengthen collaboration between the military and civilian institutions within Ghana’s security architecture.
It exposes participants to contemporary defence governance, strategic planning, resource management and national security policy, while fostering cooperation among key stakeholders responsible for addressing emerging threats, including terrorism, transnational crime, border security and disaster management.
The programme also promotes regional cooperation through the participation of officers from allied African countries.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Christians Afua Nyarko
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