H.E. Major-General Clayton Naa Boanubah Yaache, was born at Nator, Upper West Region, on August 17, 1945. Currently Ambassador of Ghana to Mali, he entered the Ghana Military Academy on December 28, 1965 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant on October 22, 1967.

He attended career courses at the Army Staff College, Camberley, UK - 1981; African Strategic Course, Nasser Higher Academy, Egypt - 1996; and Senior Command Course, National Defence University, Beijing - 1999-2000. He participated in several seminars and workshops in Europe, Africa and the USA.

In 38 years of unblemished service with the colours, Maj-Gen. Yaache held a number of responsible positions before being appointed to the high position of Chief of Army Staff in March 2001. In between, he also served in civilian positions as Managing Director, Ghana Tourist Development Company (1985-1987) and Director of National Lotteries (1987-1992).

Maj-Gen. Yaache took part in a number of UN peacekeeping operations. He was Operations Officer of the 7th Ghana Battalion in the UN Emergency Force in Egypt (UNEF II) from June to October 1976; Staff Officer to the Chief of Staff, UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) 1983-84. He was Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra (1998-12001).

As a Senior Commander in the UN Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR) at the time of the genocide, Maj-Gen. Yaache, then a Lieutenant-Colonel, organised and effectively ran UNAMIR's Humanitarian Department.

For his significant show of exceptional fortitude and professionalism at the height of the Rwanda genocide, Lt-Col Yaache received a citation from UNAMIR Force Commander, Maj-Gen. Romeo Dallaire, highly recommending him for a national award. He has since been decorated with the Long Service and Efficiency Medal.

The citation describes Lt-Col Yaache as "a superb example of the inherent military qualities of the Ghanaian officer corps."