Mr Okletey Terlabi, Deputy Minister of Defence, has charged graduands of the junior staff course 61 of the Ghana Armed Forces to always put the interest of the nation first in whatever decision or action they take.

He said the national interest can be attained collectively “when we think about our country individually since it is only the national interest that guarantees our individual interest in a sustainable manner.”

Mr. Terlabi made this remark during the graduation ceremony for members of the junior staff course 61 of the Ghana Armed Forces held on Friday at the Auditorium of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC).

There were 39 graduands comprising 30 Ghanaians and nine allied students from other West African countries.

Among the allied students, five were from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, two from the Republic of Togo and two from Liberia.

For the first time, the school graduated two officers from the Narcotics Control Board, who successfully completed the Junior Staff Course

Mr. Terlabi said GAFCSC aim at advancing middle level officers of the Ghana Armed Forces and other West African countries, as well as associated organizations to prepare them for higher positions within their various organizations.

The Junior Division of the GAFCSC, initially known as the National War College (NWC), graduated 61 students after going through a 24-week in military and non-military courses and Diploma in Public Administration.

The deputy minister expressed his joy over the successful environmental study tour of the Western Region by the students to research into how the region’s development and administrative matters are handled.

“This has helped you to understand some of the challenges and opportunities that persist in the regional development efforts and also to understand the affairs within local communities to enable you draw relevant operational plans in the course of performing your duties in such environments” he said.

He charged the military to be mindful of the conflicts that plague the society, as well as the security challenges that the production of oil and gas can pose to the citizenry.

He said, “illegal small scale mining with its attendant negative effects on the environment is a challenge and we must find answers to”.

He encouraged the participants from the Narcotics Control Board and other West African countries to go to their various destinations as pioneers and ambassadors of GAFCSC.

The deputy minister also expressed his satisfaction at the way the Commandant, the Assistant Commandant; the Directing and Administrative Staff of the Junior Division strive to maintain professional excellence at the College.

According to Captain (GN) Jo Kontoh, Acting Assistant Commandant, GAFCSC, the Junior Staff Course Students (JSCS) started running as a result of directives of a higher command, to reduce the backlog of young officers who have not had the opportunity to attend junior division.

Captain Kontoh explained that the JSCS is the second course to be run this year by the Ghana Armed Forces.

Major Peter Abban was adjudged the over-all best student.