Meet the security gurus behind Mahama’s National Security Coordinating Team

President-Elect John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a six-member team to manage and oversee national security matters pending substantive appointments to key positions.

Prosper Douglas Kwaku Bani

Prosper Douglas Kwaku Bani is a Ghanaian international aid and development manager, and politician. He is a former Chief of Staff of Ghana and a former Minister for the Interior. Bani is a senior manager and specialist in international peace-building and development processes. For over 15 years, he led innovative initiatives in peace and development with the United Nations in various locations worldwide.

Kofi Totobi Quakyi

Kofi Totobi Quakyi is a Ghanaian politician who served as Minister for Information from 1985 to 1993 under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government. He continued in this capacity from 1993 to 2001 in the government of Jerry Rawlings. A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Quakyi was appointed by the late President John Atta Mills as Minister for National Security. He is renowned for his strategic insights and contributions to national security.

Larry Gbevlo-Lartey

Larry Gbevlo-Lartey is a retired Ghanaian military officer with the Ghana Armed Forces. He served as the Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Battalion (Commandos Unit) of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was appointed by the late President John Atta Mills as the National Security Coordinator of Ghana. A private legal practitioner, Gbevlo-Lartey currently serves as the African Union Chairperson's Special Representative in Charge of Counter-Terrorism Cooperation.

Nathan Kofi Boakye

Commissioner of Police Nathan Kofi Boakye is a retired senior police officer celebrated for his illustrious career. Widely known as "Commander One," he gained national recognition in 2005 when he led officers from the Accra Regional Command in the arrest of notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi and his gang.

During his tenure as the police chief in the Ashanti Region, he implemented dynamic approaches to crime-fighting that instilled fear among criminals. Under his leadership, numerous wanted criminals in Kumasi and surrounding areas were apprehended.

Lieutenant General Peter Augustine Blay (Rtd.)

Lieutenant General Peter Augustine Blay (Rtd.) is a retired Ghanaian military officer who served as Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was appointed by President John Atta Mills in 2009 and handed over to Vice Admiral Matthew Quashie on 28 March 2013.

Blay has diverse experiences in fields such as negotiation techniques, peacekeeping, and human rights training. Notable training programs he attended include the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) negotiation techniques course in Kampong Cham, Cambodia, and a peacekeeping training course by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO) in Accra (1997). He also undertook a course for consultation experts in human rights for members of armed forces in Geneva.

Brigadier General Fuseini Iddrissu (Rtd.)

Brigadier General Fuseini Iddrissu (Rtd.) is a distinguished senior military officer who served the Ghana Armed Forces in various capacities for several years. He had an illustrious military career, marked by dedication and exemplary service.

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