<P> The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the professional head of the Ghana Armed Forces . He is thus responsible for the administration and the operational control and command of the Ghana military . The CDS is a member of the Armed Forces Council . This council advice the President of Ghana on matters of policy relating to defence and also regulates the administration of the Armed Forces . It also advises the President on the promotion of all officers above the rank of Lieutenant - Colonel or its equivalent . The CDS has also been known as the General Officer Commanding (GOC). </P> <P> The CDS is appointed by the President, in consultation with the Council of State of Ghana . </P> <P> The current CDS is Lt. Gen. Obed Akwa . He was appointed by President Akuffo - Addo on 20 June, 2017 . Prior to his appointment he was the Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces . </P> <P> The Ghana Army was formed after World War II out of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force . The officer corps then was entirely European . It was modeled on the British Army . At independence in 1957, the highest ranking Ghanaian officer was a major . Major General A.G.V. Paley served as the General Officer Commanding the Ghana Regiment of Infantry which had succeeded the Gold Coast Regiment between 1957 and 1959 . This position was effectively equivalent to Army commander as there was no Air Force or Navy . </P>

Who is the current chief of defense staff in ghana