Ghana’s former naval chief joins IADSS advisory board

Vice Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu (Retd), Ghana’s former Chief of the Naval Staff, has been named to the Global Advisory Board of the Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit. The appointment adds a senior maritime security voice to a 18-member board drawn from 13 countries as the defense sector weighs autonomous technologies and human oversight.

Why it matters: - Vice Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu (Retd) brings nearly four decades of naval leadership experience to a global forum focused on intelligent and autonomous defense systems. - His appointment comes as militaries and policymakers are confronting how to balance autonomous capability growth with human control, accountability and governance. - The advisory board’s work adds international maritime, strategic and technology expertise to a debate shaping future defense policy and capability development.

What happened: - Vice Admiral Yakubu has been selected to serve on the Global Advisory Board of the Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit (IADSS). - The board includes 18 military, strategic, academic and technology experts from 13 countries. - The announcement was issued from Ghana on October 26, 2026.

The details: - Vice Admiral Yakubu previously served as Chief of the Naval Staff of Ghana. - His background includes maritime security, strategic planning, defense diplomacy and regional cooperation. - As chief, he led a transformation of the Ghana Navy with a focus on fleet renewal, infrastructure development and the integration of advanced technologies. - He contributed to the development of Ghana’s National Integrated Maritime Strategy. - Yakubu is now Founder and Executive Chairman of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute (GoGMI). - GoGMI focuses on maritime security research, strategic thinking and regional cooperation. - Yakubu is also an active researcher and author with publications on naval history, maritime security and strategy. - IADSS said his experience adds valuable perspectives to the advisory board. - The summit’s broader mission is to examine the development, operational integration and responsible advancement of intelligent and autonomous defense capabilities.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals an emphasis on leaders who can connect operational military experience with policy and governance questions. - IADSS is positioning itself as a convening platform rather than a rule-making body. - The release ties the summit’s mission to broader international concern about autonomous weapons, human supervision and appropriate frameworks. - The United Nations Secretary-General and the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross have renewed calls for states to act on autonomous weapon systems.

What's next: - IADSS will continue its Global Summit Series across multiple countries. - The summit will bring together governments, armed forces, policymakers, defense experts, research institutions and industry for dialogue and knowledge exchange. - The IADSS Network and Directory will extend engagement throughout the year by connecting defense expertise, institutions, technologies and opportunities. - Organizers say the board will support the summit’s mission through independent military, strategic, academic and technology expertise. - More information is available from the summit website and the organizer’s website.

The bottom line: - Yakubu’s selection strengthens IADSS with a senior African naval voice at a time when defense leaders are debating how far autonomous systems should go and how tightly they should remain under human control.