Lieutenant General William Agyapong began his military career in November 1988 at the Ghana Military Academy, Teshie, Accra. He was commissioned into the Infantry Corps of the Ghana Army as a Second Lieutenant in August 1990. Since his commission, Lieutenant General William Agyapong has undertaken several military courses commensurate with his rank.
These include Defence Studies Course at the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, United Kingdom (2019); Command and Staff Officers’ Course at the US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA (2004 – 2005); Senior Command and Staff Course at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Accra (2001 – 2002); Combat Team Commanders’ Course at the Army Combat Training School, Teshie (2000); and Junior Staff Course at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Accra (1997). Additionally, the General did the United Nations Military Observers’ Course at the Peace Support Training Centre in Kenya in 2006.Lieutenant General William Agyapong has a rich educational background. He is a proud alumnus of Effiduase Secondary Commercial School and Tema Secondary School where he obtained his Ordinary and Advanced Level Certificates of education respectively.
His qualifications include Master of Arts in International Security and Strategic Studies, Master of Military Art and Science, Master of Science in Professional Accounting, and Advanced Diploma in Forensic Accounting. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), United Kingdom.
Lieutenant General Agyapong has held significant command and staff appointments in the course of his career. These include Chief Training Officer, Ghana Military Academy (May 2003 – June 2004); Directing Staff, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Teshie (September 2005); Second-in-Command, 4 Battalion of Infantry, Kumasi (September 2005 – April 2007); Commander Rear, 4 Battalion of Infantry, Kumasi (April 2008 – January 2009); Commanding Officer, Army Recruit Training School, Shai Hills (May 2010 – May 2012); Director Administration, Army Headquarters (April 2016 – January 2018); Administrative Officer, Economic Community of West African States Military Intervention in The Gambia (January – February 2017); Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation VANGUARD (July 2017 – December 2018); Deputy Director General, General Headquarters – Logistics (August 2019 – July 2021); and Director General, General Headquarters – Defence Industry Department (July 2021 – September 2023).
Lieutenant General William Agyapong’s dedication to peacekeeping is evident in his extensive international service. He served as Commanding Officer, Ghana Battalion 76 with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (May – November 2012); Planning Officer, United Nations Secretariat, New York (March 2013 – April 2016); Chief Operations Officer, Ghana Battalion 57, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (May 2012 – November 2012); Deputy Commanding Officer/Chief Operations Officer, Ghana Battalion 66, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (April – November 2007); and Deputy Chief Military Personnel Officer with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (January 2009 - May 2010).
He was the Military Advisor to Ghana’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations Headquarters, New York from September 2023 to March 2025, until his appointment as the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces on 24 March 2025.
Having exhibited irreproachable character throughout his career, Lieutenant General William Agyapong was decorated with the Long Service and Efficiency Medal on 12 January 2009. He is married to Esther and they are blessed with 4 Children and a Grandson.
