| Chief of the Air Staff | |
|---|---|
 Air Force Ensign of Ghana | |
since January 2023 | |
 Ghana Air Force | |
| Abbreviation | CAS |
| Reports to | Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Appointer | President of Ghana |
| Formation | 1959 |
| First holder | K. Jaswant-Singh |
Chief of Air Staff is the official title of the highest ranking air force personnel of the Ghana Air Force. The current Chief of Air Staff is Air Vice Marshal Frank Hanson. [1]
The senior appointment in the GHF is the Chief of Air Staff. The following is a list of the Ghana Air Force Chiefs of Air Staff: [2]
| No. | Portrait | Chief of Air Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Commodore K. Jaswant-Singh Indian | May 1959 | August 1960 | 1 year, 3 months | |
| 2 | Wing Commander I. M. Gundry-White (1918–1961) British | September 1960 | March 1961 | 6 months | |
| 3 | Air Commodore John N. H. Whitworth (1912–1974) British | March 1961 | September 1962 | 1 year, 6 months | |
| 4 | Air Commodore J.E.S. de Graft-Hayford (1912–2002) First Ghanaian CAS | September 1962 | July 1963 | 10 months | |
| 5 | Air Vice-Marshal Michael Otu (1925–2006) [3] | July 1963 | March 1968 | 4 years, 8 months | |
| 6 | Air Commodore Napoleon Ashley-Lassen (born 1934) | March 1968 | January 1971 | 2 years, 10 months | |
| 7 | Air Commodore Charles Beausoliel | January 1971 | December 1971 | 11 months | |
| (6) | Air Commodore Napoleon Ashley-Lassen | December 1971 | January 1972 | 1 month | |
| (7) | Air Commodore Charles Beausoliel | December 1972 | November 1976 | 4 years, 11 months | |
| 8 | Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye (1937–1979) | November 1976 | June 1979 | 2 years, 7 months | |
| 9 | Wing Commander Samuel Gyabaah | June 1979 | July 1979 | 1 month | |
| 10 | Group Captain F. W. K. Klutse | July 1979 | December 1979 | 4 months | |
| 11 | Air Commodore John Odaate-Barnor (1937–2012) | December 1979 | May 1980 | 5 months | |
| 12 | Air Commodore K. K. Pumpuni | May 1980 | January 1982 | 1 year, 8 months | |
| 13 | Group Captain E. A. A. Awuviri | January 1982 | December 1982 | 11 months | |
| 14 | Air Vice Marshal J. E. A. Kotei (1940–2010) | December 1982 | June 1988 | 5 years, 6 months | |
| 15 | Air Marshal Harry Dumashie (1938–2002) | June 1988 | June 1992 | 4 years | |
| 16 | Air Marshal John Asamoah Bruce (1938–2002) | 5 June 1992 | 16 March 2001 | 8 years, 9 months | |
| 17 | Air Vice Marshal Edward Mantey (born 1946) [4] | 16 March 2001 | 20 May 2005 | 4 years, 2 months | |
| 18 | Air Vice Marshal Julius Boateng [5] | 20 May 2005 | 28 January 2009 | 3 years, 8 months | |
| 19 | Air Vice Marshal Michael Samson-Oje (born 1954) [1] | 31 March 2009 | January 2016 | 6 years, 9 months | |
| 20 | Air Vice Marshal Maxwell Nagai [1] | January 2016 | January 2019 | 3 years | |
| 21 | Air Vice Marshal Frank Hanson [1] | January 2019 | January 2023 | 4 years | |
| 22 | Air Vice Marshal Frederick Asare Bekoe | January 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 9 months |
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is the state military organisation of Ghana, consisting of the Army (GA), Navy (GN), and Ghana Air Force.
The Ghana Air Force (GHF) is the aerial warfare organizational military branch of the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF). The GHF, along with the Ghanaian army (GA) and Ghanaian navy (GN), make up the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF), which are controlled by the Ghanaian Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Air vice-marshal is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure.
Air marshal is an air-officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence, including many Commonwealth nations. The rank is usually equivalent to a vice admiral or a lieutenant general.
Air chief marshal is a high-ranking air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. This rank is also equivalent to an Admiral in a navy or a full general in an army or other nations' air forces.
Marshal of the air force or marshal of the air is a five-star rank and an English-language term for the most senior rank in some air forces. It is usually the direct equivalent of a general of the air force in other air forces, a field marshal or general of the army in many armies, or a naval admiral of the fleet.
The Indian Air Force (IAF), the aerial component of the Indian Armed Forces follows a certain hierarchy of rank designations and insignia derived from the erstwhile Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF).
The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) was the name of the Ghanaian government after the People's National Party's elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, in a coup d'état on 31 December 1981. He remained in power until 7 January 1993. In a statement, Rawlings said that a "holy war" was necessary due to the PNP's failure to provide effective leadership and the collapse of the national economy and state services.
Major General Robert Ebenezer Abossey Kotei was a soldier, politician and track and field athlete. He was once the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and also a member of the Supreme Military Council that ruled Ghana between 1975 and 1979. He was executed in 1979, following a military coup. He also held the Ghanaian high jump record for many years.
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 Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) is a decoration awarded to members of the Singapore Armed Forces for exceptionally distinguished performance or extraordinary service, or the furtherance of links with overseas forces.
Air Vice-Marshal James Ernest Akrong Kotei was a military pilot and diplomat. He served as a Chief of Air Staff of the Ghana Air Force and later as an Ambassador for Ghana.
The National Defence College, located in New Delhi, is the defence service training institute and highest seat of strategic learning for officers of the Defence Service and the Civil Services. This is a very prestigious course attended only by a few hand-picked defence officers of One-Star rank and civil servants of the rank of Joint secretary to the Government of India. Each year, approximately 25 officers from friendly foreign countries like the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE and others attend the course.
Air Vice Marshal John E. Odaate-Barnor was a Ghanaian airman and diplomat. He was a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He served in this capacity from 7 December 1979 till 31 December 1981.
Air Marshal Achilles Harry Kwami Dumashie, often known as Harry Dumashie, was a Ghanaian soldier. He served as Chief of Air Staff and as Ghanaian Chief of Defence Staff from 1992 to 1996.
Vice Admiral Mathew Quashie was a Ghanaian naval officer and was the twenty-ninth Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He also served as the Chief of Naval Staff of the Ghana Navy from 3 April 2009 to 28 March 2013.
Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa is a retired Ghanaian military officer who served as the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces from February 2017 to February 2021. Prior to his appointment, he was the Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The Chief of the Naval Staff is the head of the Naval operations and the administrative head in the Ghana Navy. The current Chief of Naval Staff is Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu.
Air Vice Marshal Maxwell Mantsebi-Tei Nagai is a Ghanaian air force officer and serves in the Ghana Air Force. He is a former Chief of Air Staff of the Ghana Air Force.
Air Vice Marshall Frederick Asare Kwasi Bekoe is a Ghanaian military officer currently serving as the Chief of Air Staff of the Ghana Air Force. He was appointed to this position by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 26 January 2023.
