President John Dramani Mahama has paid tribute to the late Chief of Defense Staff, Lt. Gen. Arnold Quainoo, recognizing his dedication and service to Ghana.
Speaking at the final funeral rites on February 7, 2025, at Burma Camp, Mahama expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and the Ghana Armed Forces, describing Lt. Gen. Quainoo as a disciplined and patriotic leader.
President Mahama highlighted Quainoo’s significant contributions to national security and peacekeeping efforts, calling him a patriot who served with honor and commitment.
He added that everyone remembers General Arnold Quainoo as a highly disciplined and principled individual, adding that those who had the opportunity to associate with him were inspired by his selflessness and patriotism.
President Mahama further explained that Gen. Arnold Quainoo belonged to a generation that prioritized love for the country and was not overly influenced by materialism.
He stated that Quainoo’s generation was deeply principled and acted out of patriotic duty, contrasting this with the current generation, where everything is driven by material wealth.
“People like him joined the army because they loved the profession, and that was their sole reason for joining.”
Mahama praised Quainoo’s important contributions to national security and peacekeeping efforts, particularly his leadership in the ECOMOG intervention in Liberia.
He emphasized that Quainoo’s legacy of selflessness and commitment to the nation would always be remembered.
President Mahama further added, “For me, one of the major events in his life was the ECOMOG force that intervened in Liberia. I noticed it was captured in just a brief sentence, but for those of us who were young at the time, we truly appreciated the danger they were stepping into.”
“The Liberian civil war was extremely dangerous. The ECOWAS heads of state had decided to send an intervention force. This was not like the peacekeeping missions we are familiar with today, it was a high-risk operation. Ghana’s contingent was the first to enter Liberia, and General Arnold Quainoo had the distinguished honor of leading that contingent.”
Mahama said that although there were concerns for the safety of the troops, they made Ghana proud by leading the way into Liberia and creating a bridgehead for the rest of the ECOMOG force to follow.
However, he acknowledged that many military personnel sacrificed their lives in the mission.
“They died, but the peace Liberia enjoys today is because of the brave men who risked everything for the country.”
Lieutenant General Arnold Quainoo was a Ghanaian former military officer and served as the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces from August 1983 to September 1989. He took over from Flight Lieutenant J. J. Rawlings and handed over to Lieutenant General Winston Mensa-Wood.
Career
Lieutenant General Quainoo’s military career is marked by his exceptional leadership and dedication, earning him a place among Ghana’s most distinguished soldiers. He served twice as Army Commander, first in 1979 after the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) coup, which overthrew the Supreme Military Council.
When Ghana returned to constitutional rule in 1981 with the election of Dr Hilla Limann’s government, he was replaced. However, following the coup by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), he was reappointed as Chief of Army Staff.
He succeeded Flight Lieutenant J.J. Rawlings as Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), serving as Ghana’s 22nd CDS from August 25, 1983, to September 22, 1989. During this period, he played a crucial role in stabilising the military amidst a politically turbulent era.
On the international stage, Lieutenant General Quainoo was appointed in 1990 as the first commander of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), overseeing the intervention in Liberia to help bring an end to the civil war.
Known for his strong stance on military discipline, he is credited with abolishing extravagant initiation and wetting ceremonies in military messes, replacing them with the reaffirmation ceremony.
Lieutenant General Quainoo is survived by his wife, Juliet Flora Quainoo, and their children: Josephine Aba Quainoo, Brenda Esi McGail, Anthony Quainoo, Audrey Asamoah, Ida Antonia Gyan-Bediako, Arnold Ato Quainoo, and Julian Ebow Quainoo.
