The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced Major General Obed Boamah Akwa as the new Chief of Defense Staff.
His appointment into the new position follows the resignation of Air Vice Marshall Michael Samson-Oje as the CDS.
The former CDS went to the Jubilee House to bid farewell to the President.
Maj Gen Akwa is serving as the acting CDS until the Council of State is constituted to affirm his position.
Maj Gen Akwa was appointed Chief of Army Staff on July 1, 2016 by former president John Mahama.
He enlisted into the Ghana Military Academy in October 1975. He was commissioned into the Ghana Army as a Second Lieutenant in March 1977 with extensive experience in Global Security, Defence and Strategic Studies. He also has an excellent understanding of the theory and practice of international peace support operations.
He served as the Western Brigade Commander/Ghanaian Contingent Commander with the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Congo (MONUSCO).
Brig Gen Akwa had his basic military training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom from 1976-1977. He has academic qualifications in Global Security (MSc) from Cranfield University, England, 2003; Defence and Strategic Studies (MSc) from Madras University, India, 1977; and Public Administration (Certificate) from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana, 1989.
Major General Obed Boamah Akwa was until his appointment the Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He also occupied the position of Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.