President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, currently Chief of Staff at General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, as the new Chief of Army Staff.
A statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, stated that “following the completion of the tour of duty and subsequent retirement from the Ghana Armed Forces of Major General William Ayamdo, the Chief of Army Staff, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has, in consultation with the Council of State, appointed Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, currently Chief of Staff at General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, as the new Chief of Army Staff, effective Tuesday, 18th February, 2020.”
The statement added that on the recommendation of the Armed Forces Council, the President has appointed Commodore Issah Adams Yakubu as the new Chief of Staff at General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces to succeed Major General Oppong-Peprah, effective Wednesday, 19th February 2020.
Commodore Yakubu is also promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on the same date.
Additionally, following the completion of the tour of duty and subsequent retirement from the Ghana Armed Forces of Major General Omane Agyekum, the Commandant of the Military Academy and Training Schools (MATS), the President has, on the recommendation of the Armed Forces Council, appointed Brigadier General C.K. Awity as the new Commandant of MATS, effective Wednesday, 19th February 2020. He is also promoted to the rank of Major General on the same date.
The statement concluded that President Akufo-Addo has expressed his gratitude to Generals Ayamdo and Omane Agyekum for their dedicated and meritorious services to the Ghana Armed Forces and to the nation.
About Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah
Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah was commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces in 1986 as part of Regular Career Course 26 and was posted to the Armour Recognisance Regiment.
His civil educational qualifications include a Master of Arts in International Security and Strategy from Kings College, London ( 2013 – 2014) and an Executive Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) from University of Ghana, Legon (2006 – 2007).
He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration (Human Resource Management) from the University of Ghana (1999 – 2004) and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (1998).
Major General Oppong-Peprah has undertaken several career progression courses. These include Defence Studies at the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, United Kingdom (2013 – 2014), Senior Intelligence Course at the Joint Intelligence Centre, Strasbourg, France (2010), Law of Combating Terrorism at the Defence Institute of International Legal Studies, Newport, Rhode Island, USA (2009) and Senior Command and Staff Course at the US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA (2000-2001).
Other career progression courses undertaken are Senior Command and Staff Course at Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Accra (1998 – 1999), Junior Command and Staff Course at the Command and Staff College, Kaduna, Nigeria (1997) and Armour Officer Basic Course at the US Army Armour School, Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA (1996).
Appointments held in the course of his career include Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of the Defence Staff, Ghana Armed Forces (1995 – 1997), Operations/Training Officer, 64 Infantry Regiment, (1999 – 2000).
He was the Commanding Officer, 64 Infantry Regiment from 2002 to 2009, with additional appointments as Commanding Officer, Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, (2004-2005), Coordinator, State Transport Security (2001 – 2008) and Instructor, Disaster Management Course, Army Combat Training School, Teshie (2001-2005).
Other appointments held are Director, Strategic Intelligence Assessment, Defence Intelligence Department, General Headquarters (2009-2011), Director Operations and Plans, Defence Industries Department, General Headquarters (2011 – 2013), Director Army Training (Sep 14 to Feb 16) and Director Army Peacekeeping Operations (Feb – Jul 16) Chief Staff Officer, Army Headquarters (Jul 16 –Feb 17).
Prior to his current appointment as the Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters, he was the General Officer Commanding, Southern Command of the Ghana Army (Feb 17 – Jan 19).
In peacekeeping, he has served as Humanitarian Officer, United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (June-December 1994), Military Observer, United Nations Aouzou Strip Observer Group in Libya/Chad (March-May 1994), G4 Transport and Plans, United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara – 1993 and Detachment Second-In-Command/Troop Leader, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon/Israel (1987, 1989, 1992)
He is a Board member of the Governing Council of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
Major General Oppong-Peprah is married with five (5) children. He enjoys horse riding, soccer, travelling, watching movies and jogging.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh