Military leaders have been called upon to enhance their readiness for emerging security threats, which include cyber-attacks, epidemics, floods, and other unexpected crises.
Thomas Svanikier, a businessman and the Founder of Svani Group, made this appeal during the 50th Anniversary Thanksgiving and Graduation Religious Service of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) held in Accra on Sunday.
He emphasized that while the military’s fundamental duty of safeguarding the nation remains constant, the security landscape has progressed beyond traditional warfare.
Svanikier encouraged commanders to formulate and routinely evaluate contingency plans to ensure that the Armed Forces can respond effectively when standard systems are compromised.
He also advocated for enhanced intelligence-sharing and professional collaboration among military institutions throughout Africa to assist in identifying and mitigating threats before they escalate.
Regarding leadership, he warned commanders against allowing personal pride to hinder their acceptance of ideas from their subordinates.
“Leadership is, therefore, a privilege, a privilege that you hold in trust. It is never truly owned,” he remarked.
He urged the graduating officers to lead with humility, courage, integrity, and professionalism, emphasizing that their roles carry the responsibility to serve and create a positive legacy.
Svanikier also challenged the GAFCSC to consistently assess its training and readiness to adapt to the evolving global security environment.
He referenced the contingency strategies implemented in the private sector during the COVID-19 pandemic as a pertinent example of why institutions must prepare for scenarios where normal operations become unfeasible.
