A twenty-seven member military team, comprising seven (7) members of Staff and twenty (20) students from the Ghana Armed Forces’ Senior Command and Staff Course 45 undertook an African Study tour to Luanda from 4th to 12th May, 2024. The team was led by the Commandant of the Ghana Armed Forces’ Senior Command and Staff College (GAFSC), Major General Matthew Essien.
Under the theme “Assessing the recent surge in incidents of Military coups in Africa and the impact on the democratic aspirations of the continent”, the visit to Angola was successful, given the immense support and collaboration of the Ministry of External Relations and the Ministry of National Defence and Veterans of the Fatherland. The study tour to Angola was intended to generally equip the military personnel with requisite historical, political, socio-economic, and cultural perspectives of the African continent in relation to matters of defence and security.
On arrival in Luanda, the Military delegation was received at the Chancery by the Ambassador of Ghana, H. E. Mavis Esi Kusorgbor on Monday, 6th May, 2024.
The Secretary of State of the Ministry of Defence, Ex-Combatants and Veterans of War of the Republic of Angola, H. E. Mr. Jose’ Maria de Lima, subsequently granted audience to Ambassador Mavis Esi Kusorgbor, Major General Matthew Essien and the military team.
The programme for the visit entailed lectures and visits to relevant sites in Luanda. They were also briefed by high-level Angolan officials on the history and culture of Angolan. The visiting delegation were also apprised on various aspects of defence and security; geopolitics; maritime security and communication policies of Angola and the SADC region.
The second Africa Study tour from GAFSC to Angola is considered a laudable and significant development in the bilateral relations between Ghana and Angola. Having taken place at a time when bilateral relations between Ghana and Angola are burgeoning, the visit holds immense prospects of close cooperation in new areas, including defence and security.
