The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) on Thursday, May 8, held a colourful and memorable ceremony to honour the outgoing Commandant, Major General Richard Addo Gyane, who officially retires after nearly 40 years of distinguished service with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
In a reflective and heartfelt address, Maj Gen Addo Gyane recounted a military journey that began in 1985 when he joined the Ghana Military Academy as the only Flight Cadet in his intake. He later transitioned to the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) Corps — a move that paved the way for a trailblazing career.
He would go on to become the first EME officer in Ghana’s history to attain the ranks of Brigadier General and subsequently Major General, breaking longstanding institutional barriers.
“Through sheer determination and merit-based leadership,” he said, he was able to challenge traditions that limited appointments and promotions to certain Corps, promoting a more inclusive and excellence-driven culture within the Armed Forces.
Throughout his military career, Maj Gen Addo Gyane held several key leadership roles, including Commanding Officer at Army Headquarters, Director Plans at the Department of Plans, Research and Development (PR&D), and notably, the first non-infantry Army officer to serve as Director General of PR&D.
His leadership was instrumental in expanding the GAF’s operational capabilities, including the establishment of TRADOC, Forward Operating Bases, and the creation of new units.
Appointed as KAIPTC’s Commandant in November 2022 during a period of global economic recovery, Maj Gen Addo Gyane is credited with leading a transformation at the Centre. Under his leadership, KAIPTC saw the renovation of the Women Youth Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI) Block, refurbishment of the Multipurpose Court, construction of a new Main Gate, containerized offices, and enhanced IT infrastructure — all designed to strengthen training and expand the Centre’s international presence.
To ensure the Centre’s long-term viability, he introduced initiatives to commercialize selected training programmes, expanded academic offerings, and deepened donor engagement. He also oversaw the integration of a new Youth Unit into the restructured Women, Peace and Security Institute — now elevated to departmental status — and advanced plans to establish an Undergraduate School in Peace Studies as well as a KAIPTC Hotel to boost accommodation capacity. A Digital Learning and Innovation Unit is also being developed to modernize the Centre’s training platforms.
In his farewell speech, Maj Gen Addo Gyane expressed gratitude to KAIPTC’s development partners, Advisory Board, management, staff, and his family — with special tribute to his wife, whom he described as his “pillar of strength.”
He urged the youth to uphold values of “integrity, hard work, and accountability,” and called on all aspiring leaders to be guided by “loyalty, courage, and honesty.”
As he symbolically handed over to his successor, Air Commodore David Akrong, Maj Gen Addo Gyane offered words of encouragement: “He is a capable leader with a strong sense of purpose,” he said, urging him to practise inclusive leadership and draw on the strengths of KAIPTC’s diverse team.
“Though I leave the KAIPTC in the flesh, my spirit and prayers shall remain with the Centre that I have come to love so much,” he concluded.
Major General Richard Addo Gyane leaves behind a lasting legacy of innovation, resilience, and visionary leadership — a true embodiment of service above self.