BASE COMMANDER’S PROFILE
Air Commodore Eric Yirenkyi is a distinguished Senior Officer of the Ghana Air Force who has served with unwavering dedication and professionalism since his commissioning on 14 August 1992. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer as part of Regular Career Course Intake 32 from the prestigious Ghana Military Academy.
As a highly qualified Military Transport Pilot, Air Commodore Yirenkyi has accumulated over 2,500 flying hours. His career has been marked by extensive military and academic training, both locally and internationally.
His military education includes courses at the Air Force Command College (People’s Liberation Army Air Force, Beijing, China), the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC, Teshie), the Flying Training School (Air Force Base, Takoradi), and the Ghana Military Academy.
His military qualifications include a Master of Science degree in Military Arts from PLAAF (Beijing, China), First Aid Instructor certification, and completion of the Army Intelligence Officers Course.
In addition to his military training, Air Commodore Yirenkyi has pursued various civil academic programmes from renowned institutions. These include the European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company (EADS) Airbus SAS in Seville, Spain; the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA); and the Sierra Academy of Aeronautics in California, USA. His civil certifications include:
- CASA 295 Aircraft Type-Rating License
- Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration
- Certificate in Public Administration
- Commercial Pilot License
- GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level Certificates
Air Commodore Yierenkyi has participated in some events outside the shores of Ghana. Notable among them are: Directing Staff Seminar/Workshop at the Advanced Command and Staff College, United Kingdom and an Observer/Umpire on the Combined Joint African Exercise (CJAX) at the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Zambia.
Throughout his illustrious career, Air Commodore Yirenkyi has held numerous key appointments across command, instructional, operational, and staff roles within the Ghana Armed Forces and internationally. These include:
- Assistant Commandant (Senior Division), GAFCSC
- Assistant Chief of Staff (Logistics), General Headquarters
- Chief Instructor, Air Faculty, GAFCSC
- Directing Staff, Rwanda Defence Forces Command and Staff College
- Directing Staff, GAFCSC
- Officer Commanding, Flying Wing, Air Force Base Tamale.
- Officer Commanding, Flying Wing, Air Force Base Takoradi.
- Officer Commanding, No.1 Squadron/Chief Ground Instructor, Flying Training School.
- Officer Commanding, Air Force Recruit Training School, Air Force Base, Takoradi.
His commitment to global peace is evident in his participation in several peacekeeping operations. He served as a Military Observer with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) from 2006 to 2007 and as Staff Officer (Protocol) with the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) from 2002 to 2003.
Prior to his current appointment as Base Commander, Air Force Base Takoradi, he served with distinction as the Chief Staff Officer at the Air Force Headquarters (AFHQ), where he played a pivotal role in strategic planning, coordination, and the overall administration of the Ghana Air Force.
Air Commodore Yirenkyi is happily married and blessed with three children. Outside his professional responsibilities, he finds relaxation in gardening, walking, and reading. His career is a shining example of leadership, selfless service and dedication to both nation and humanity.
