Retired Lieutenant General Arnold Quainoo, a distinguished former Ghanaian military officer, has passed away. According to Graphic.com.gh, he died on Monday, December 2, 2024, at the 37 Military Hospital.
Lt. Gen. Quainoo served as the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces from August 1983 to September 1989, following the late Flight Lieutenant J.J. Rawlings, who was then Ghana’s head of state. He was succeeded by Lieutenant General Winston Mensa-Wood.
Affectionately known as the “Buffalo Soldier,” Lt. Gen. Quainoo was the first commander of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). He led the group’s intervention in Liberia during the civil war, earning recognition for his leadership in a complex and volatile mission.
His military career was marked by significant appointments, including serving twice as Army Commander. His first term followed the 1979 coup by the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), which ousted the Supreme Military Council (SMC).
He was later reappointed as Chief of Army Staff under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and subsequently became the General Officer Commanding the Ghana Armed Forces.
In 2014, Lt. Gen Quainoo addressed controversies surrounding his role as ECOMOG commander, firmly denying responsibility for the death of Liberian President Samuel Doe during the group’s intervention.
Lt. Gen Quainoo’s legacy as a skilled and influential military leader remains a significant chapter in Ghana’s history.
