The Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, has announced that the Ministry of Defence will soon present a proposal to Parliament for the establishment of a National Defence University (NDU) in Ghana.
The proposed university is designed to serve as an overarching institution, bringing together several existing Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) training colleges under a single academic umbrella.
These include the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) and the Ghana Military Academy.
Speaking during a joint leadership conference on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, ahead of the resumption of parliamentary sittings, Hon. Ayariga explained that the move aims to integrate military discipline and doctrine into higher education. By centralising these institutions, the GAF intends to offer specialized defence-related degrees—ranging from diplomas to PhDs—to both military personnel and civilians.
The Majority Leader noted that while these colleges currently award degrees through affiliations with other universities, the GAF now possesses the infrastructure and academic reach to operate as an independent, degree-granting entity.
Hon. Ayariga noted that similar institutions exist globally and expressed confidence that Ghana’s strong reputation in international peace and security would make the university a hub for foreign students.
The establishment of the NDU is expected to strengthen national security education while positioning Ghana as a premier destination for strategic studies in the sub-region.
“They (GAF) feel that given the number of institutions that they have, it would be strategic to bring that under one umbrella and have it established as a university with different departments. They will be bringing a bill to establish the Defence University…I think that it is good. Ghana has a very enviable track record in terms of our achievements in maintaining peace and security, and we believe that if we establish the Defence University, it will also help raise funds for them because many people will come here to obtain degrees here.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
