[2] Following his enlistment in the army in 1952, he studied courses in General Education for his Ordinary level (O-Level) certificate and also passed the WAF entrance examination.
In 1952, Dontoh enlisted in the Ghana (then Gold Coast) Army and rose through the ranks to become a sergeant.
[5] He later became a liaison officer when he was seconded to the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in the Congo, and due to his performance in executing his duties, he was mentioned in dispatches.
[7] Following his training in Armoured Welfare in the United Kingdom, Dontoh became a Squadron Leader and took charge of 2 Recce Army in September 1961 as a Major.
[8] He was commander of the Reece Regiment operating in the Flagstaff house during the 24 February 1966 coup d'état.