Story by Sqn Ldr Elizabeth F Salifu
Pictures by WO I Anku Mawuli

Ghana Air Force (GHAF) has concluded its four-day Strategic Leadership Forum with a renewed commitment to strengthening operational readiness, capability development and institutional effectiveness to meet current and future national security requirements.

The Forum, which ended on Thursday, 3 September 2026, at Safari Valley Eco Park, brought together the strategic leadership of the Service to assess its current state, identify capability and institutional gaps, and develop practical measures to guide its transformation over the next five to 10 years.

Held under the theme, “Transforming the Ghana Air Force for Future Readiness: Strategic Leadership, Capability Development and Institutional Renewal,” discussions focused on operational readiness, fleet modernisation, aviation safety, infrastructure development, personnel, training, logistics, administration and organisational development.

During the closing ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Eric Agyen-Frempong, urged Commanders, Directors and Heads of Units to move beyond identifying challenges and ensure that the decisions and recommendations of the Forum were translated into practical and implementable actions.

He stressed that the modernisation of the Ghana Air Force must be holistic and should not focus solely on the acquisition of aircraft and equipment, but must equally address personnel, infrastructure, training, maintenance systems, logistics, doctrine, policies and leadership.

The CAS further emphasised that sustainability must remain central to capability development, with every acquired capability supported by the requisite infrastructure, trained personnel, maintenance capacity, logistics support and long-term financial planning.

Air Vice Marshal Agyen-Frempong also underscored the importance of personnel welfare and professional development, describing officers, airmen, airwomen and Defence Civilian Staff as the foundation of the Service. He called for continued efforts to provide an enabling environment for personnel while upholding the highest standards of discipline, professionalism, integrity and commitment to duty.

In a related engagement, the Founder and Owner of Safari Valley Eco Park, Mr Samuel Afari, accompanied by the Board Chairman, Mr Ernest Gyekye, called on the CAS after learning of the ongoing Forum at the facility.

Mr Afari expressed appreciation to the Ghana Air Force for choosing Safari Valley Eco Park to host the Forum and highlighted the facility’s contribution to employment and local economic development. Mr Gyekye also underscored the importance of collaboration and expressed the leadership’s willingness to strengthen relations with the Ghana Air Force.

The CAS commended the leadership of Safari Valley for the significant investment in the facility and expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended to the Ghana Air Force.

The Forum concluded with a renewed commitment to translate its recommendations into tangible and measurable interventions towards building a Ghana Air Force that is operationally ready, professionally competent, technologically relevant, sustainable and responsive to the security needs of Ghana.