The CSO

Commodore Bright Emmanuel Kojo Atiayao was born on 2 December 1968 in Accra. He attended Bishop Herman College, where he obtained his General Certificate of Education Ordinary and Advanced Levels from 1982 to 1989. He was enlisted into the Ghana Military Academy as a Naval Cadet on 11 November 1991 and commissioned on 30 October 1994. He then proceeded to the Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, UK, for the Royal Navy Young Officers Course from September 1995 to December 1996. Upon his return he served as a Watch Keeping Officer on board GNS SEBO from December 1996 to February 1997, and then proceeded to the USA, for the International Riverine and Coastal Operations Course from August to October 1997.
From February 1997 to May 1998, Commodore Atiayao served a Watch Keeping Officer (WKO) on board Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) SEBO and GNS YOGAGA, and later pursued the International Sub Lieutenant Course at BRNC, UK from May to December 1998. Upon his return, he again ...Read More served as WKO on board GNS SEBO from December 1998 to February 2000 and later as Navigating Officer on GNS YOGAGA from February 2000 to April 2001. He then joined GNS ANZONE as a Navigating Officer from April to November 2001, and successfully planned and executed the Ship’s passage from Baltimore, USA to Ghana. Commodore Atiayao subsequently served with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Nations Mission in Liberia as a Military Observer and Staff Officer from November 2001 to November 2002 and from September 2006 to October 2007 respectively.

Additionally, he held various appointments on board ships including Commanding Officer GNS DAVID HANSEN from November 2002 to July 2003, Executive Officer GNS ANZONE from July 2003 to December 2004, and Acting Commanding Officer GNS YOGAGA from October 2007 to July 2008. His shore tours include Acting Commanding Officer, Basic and Leadership Training Schools, Tema, from December 2004 to September 2005, Directing Staff Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (Junior Division) from July 2008 to March 2011 and Commanding Officer Naval Base Sekondi from March 2011 to August 2012. Directing Staff Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (Senior Division) from August 2012 to September 2014.
Commodore Atiayao was seconded as a Directing Staff to Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigeria from September 2014 to September 2016. He was subsequently appointed Chief Instructor of the Naval Faculty, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, from September 2016 to September 2017. He then served at the Naval Headquarters as Director Naval Training from September 2017 to July 2018, as Director Naval Administration from July 2018 to July 2019 and as Director Naval Operations from July 2020- July 2021. He took charge of the Ghana Navy Fleet as the Flag Officer Fleet from July 2021 to June 2023. He served as the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Training Command, from June 2023 to March 2024. He is currently the Chief Staff Officer at the Naval Headquarters, an appointed he assumed in March 2024.

Commodore Atiayao holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration, Post Graduate Diploma and Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. He is also an Alumnus of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College where he undertook both the Junior and Senior Staff Courses and the United States Naval War College, where he pursued both the Naval Staff Course and the Naval Command Course. Commodore Atiayao also undertook the Overseas Directing Staff Course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, UK, and series of specialized Naval and Military courses locally and overseas commensurate with his rank.

He is married and has 4 children. His hobbies include solving complex problems, observing nature and listening to gospel music.