Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, the Chief of the Defence Staff, was enlisted into the Ghana Armed Forces as a Naval Cadet in 1981 and had his initial training at the Ghana Military Academy (GMA). While at GMA, he was sent to the Pakistan Naval Academy on 1 August 1982, to continue with his training and was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Ghana Navy in December 1984.
He was a proud winner of the sword of honour on graduation in Pakistan. Rear Admiral Amoama’s military training and qualifications include; International Sub-Lieutenant Course at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, UK. He attended the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff Courses both Junior and Senior Divisions at Teshie, Accra and was the best all round graduate on both courses. He was a member of the Naval Staff Course, Class 53 at US Naval War College, Newport Rhode Island graduating with distinction. He graduated from the Nigerian Defence College in August 2013 as the best all round graduate.
The Chief of the Defence Staff is an alumnus of the Galilee Institute of Management in Israel and holds a Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies from the Political Science Department of University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
He has held numerous appointments in the Ghana Armed Forces both afloat and ashore. He was the Watch Keeping Officer onboard GHANA NAVY SHIPS SEBO, ACHIMOTA and YOGAGA at different times in his career. He also served as Commanding Officer onboard GHANA NAVY SHIPS DZATA (October 1991 – February 1994) and ACHIMOTA (July 2008 – March 2009).
Between March 2002 and March 2003, the Chief of the Defence Staff served as Directing Staff at the Junior and later Senior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command & Staff College. He was later seconded to the United Nations Headquarters as Military Planning Officer at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations from February 2005 to May 2008. Admiral Amoama was the Director of Administration at the Naval Headquarters (1 April 2009 – 31 July 13), Military Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff (1 August 2013 – 31 July 2014) and later the Chief Staff Officer at the Naval Headquarters (1 August 14 – 28 February 16). He also served as the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command from 1 March 2016 to June 2016.
Vice Admiral Seth Amoama served as the Commandant of the Ghana Armed Forces Command & Staff College from 1 July 2016 to 3 January 2019. As the Commandant, he pioneered the merger of the professional and academic courses at the College, and also superintended over the infrastructural facelift of the College. Until his appointment as the Chief of the Defence Staff, he was the Chief of the Naval Staff from 8 January 2019 to 5 February 2021. The Navy witnessed significant developments under his stewardship including the sailing of 4 Ghana Navy Ships to the Equator, a feat that had not been achieved over 4 decades. Further, he oversaw the construction of a world-class training facility at the Navy Training Command at Nutekpor. Admiral Amoama was elevated to the high office of Chief of the Defence Staff on 5 February 2021 in Acting capacity and confirmed in Substantive Appointment on 3 March 2021.
Admiral Amoama has some peacekeeping experience, having served as UN Military Observer in Rwanda (1995-1996), UN Liaison Officer in Lebanon (1997-1998), and UN Staff Officer in Sierra Leone (2001-2002).
In recognition of his outstanding leadership, uncommon patriotism and epic professionalism, Admiral Amoama was presented with the distinguished Alumnus Award of the Nigeria National Defence College by His Excellency Muhamadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigera on 2 August 2019.