Former President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has issued a stirring call for a renewed commitment to governance reforms and institutional strengthening across Africa, as he delivered the keynote lecture at the National Defence College’s Graduation Ceremony in Abuja on Monday, August 18.
Speaking on the theme “Strengthening Institutions for Good Governance in Africa,” the former president addressed a high-level audience that included Nigeria’s Minister for Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and Commandant of the National Defence College Rear Admiral James Ohimai Okuson.
The event marked the graduation of Course 33 participants—drawn from nations across Africa, South America, and Asia.
Akufo-Addo emphasized that Africa’s journey toward resilient governance must be “multi-faceted, multi-layered, and multi-dimensional,” highlighting the need for:
- Tighter oversight mechanisms
- Digital transparency initiatives
- Inclusive nation-building
- Fiscal discipline and reform
- Active citizen participation
- Robust legal and institutional frameworks
- “Without strong institutions, our democracies remain fragile, our states vulnerable, and our people underserved,” Akufo-Addo said, stressing that Africa can no longer afford to outsource its development or depend solely on external powers for statecraft models.
Drawing parallels with Ghana’s progress, Akufo-Addo also celebrated the establishment of Ghana’s College of Defence Studies in 2023, a key initiative during his presidency to train high-level security and defence personnel locally. He noted with pride that the institution was granted a Presidential Charter in 2024, formally recognizing it as Ghana’s first autonomous National Defence University.
“For far too long, we’ve relied on the likes of the United States, the UK, and India to train our strategic leaders. Now, Africa must take ownership of its defence and governance futures,” he asserted.
The National Defence College of Nigeria, which hosted the event, is regarded as one of the continent’s premier institutions for preparing senior leaders for complex regional and global security challenges.
Source; www.leakyghana.com
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