BASE COMMANDER’S PROFILE
Air Commodore Joshua Lartei Mensah-Larkai
Air Commodore Joshua Lartei Mensah-Larkai was born in Accra, in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. He attended Accra Academy Secondary School where he attained his General Certificate of Education (Ordinary and Advanced Levels). He was then enrolled in the Ghana Military Academy for his basic military training. He successfully completed training and was commissioned as a pilot into the Ghana Air Force on 26 October 1992 and posted to the then Air Force Station, Accra, in the same year.
Since his commissioning, he has undertaken numerous local and international staff courses including Flight Commanders' Course at Accra, Ghana; Junior Staff Course at Jaji, Nigeria and Senior Staff Course at Montgomery, Alabama, USA.
He has also completed numerous flight career courses which include Commercial Pilot License Course at Sierra Academy of Aeronautics in California, MI-17 Certificate Course at Kazan Helicopters Limited, Russia, Night Vision Goggles Course at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Shrewsbury, United Kingdom and Ground Instructors’ Course at RAF, Cranwell, United Kingdom.
Air Commodore Mensah-Larkai is a pilot of the No 3 Helicopter Squadron. By dint of hard work, he has held a number of appointments including; Base Adjutant, Flight Commander and Squadron Commander No. 3 Helicopter Squadron, Air Force Base Accra, Director Validation Standardization Inspection at the Air Force Headquarters and Base Commander, Air Force Base Accra. He also served with UNOCI Ghana Aviation (GHAV) 3 as Operations Officer (OPO) in 2007/2008, Deputy Commanding Officer/Operations Officer (DCO/OPO) GHAV 7 in 2009/2010. He was Commander GHAV 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, and 19 from 2011 to 2017. He served with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) as a Military Observer.
Air Commodore Mensah-Larkai has been decorated with medals and awards including the Long Service and Efficiency Medal, UNMIL and UNOCI medals. He was awarded the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Prize for being the overall best student at the Royal College of Defence Studies, UK and Odartey Bannor award for being the best all round helicopter pilot graduate during his basic flying training course. He holds a Diploma and Bachelor of Arts Degree (Honours) in Public Administration from GIMPA, Accra, Ghana. He also holds Masters’ Degrees (Honours) in Military Operational Art & Science and International Security and Strategy from the Air University of Montgomery, Alabama and King’s College, London, respectively. Air Commodore Mensah-Larkai is married to Patricia Dzifa Mensah-Larkai and they are blessed with two daughters. He enjoys playing golf, watching soccer and he loves reading.
