President Akufo-Addo has appointed Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, the Chief of Army Staff, as the new Chief of Defence Staff, effective Thursday, February 1.
The announcement was made through a press statement signed by Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communications at the Office of the President, on Wednesday, January 24.
The statement further mentioned that the appointment is subject to consultation with the Council of State, in accordance with the provisions of Article 212 of the Constitution of the Republic.
Below is the profile of Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah
Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces in 1986 as part of Regular Career Course 26, began his military career as a Second Lieutenant in the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. Over the years, he has acquired a wealth of civil educational qualifications and undertaken various career progression courses to enhance his skills and knowledge.
His academic achievements include a Master of Arts in International Security and Strategy from Kings College, London (2013-2014), an Executive Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) from the University of Ghana, Legon (2006-2007), 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 the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (1998).
Major General Oppong-Peprah’s career progression courses include the Combined/Joint Forces Land Component Commanders Course at the USA Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania (April 2021), Defence Studies at the Royal College of Defence, 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).
His career appointments showcase his diverse experience, including serving as Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of the Defence Staff (1995-1997), Operations/Training Officer at the 64 Infantry Regiment (1999-2000), Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Regiment (2002-2009), and Commanding Officer of the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (2004-2005). He held key roles such as Coordinator of State Transport Security (2001-2008), Director of Strategic Intelligence Assessment at the Defence Intelligence Department, General Headquarters (2009-2011), and Director of Operations and Plans at the Defence Industries Department, General Headquarters (2011-2013).
Maj Gen Oppong-Peprah also served in international peacekeeping operations, including roles as Humanitarian Officer in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (June to December 1994), Military Observer in the United Nations Aouzou Strip Observer Group in Libya/Chad (March to May 1994), G4 Transport and Plans in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (1993), and Detachment Second-In-Command/Troop Leader in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon/Israel (1987, 1989, 1992).
In his personal life, Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah is married with five children. His interests include horse riding, soccer, traveling, watching movies, and jogging. He has also served as a board member of the Governing Council of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). Currently, he holds the position of Chief of the Army Staff, appointed in March 2020.