Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Army’s 153 Armoured Regiment (153 Armd Regt) has transformed an old structure into a 30-bed capacity Young Soldiers’ Accommodation Block, and commissioned it as part of projects being earnestly undertaken, to ameliorate accommodation distress in the Regiment.
Inaugurating the 30-bed facility which has attached washrooms, at Gondar Barracks, Burma Camp, Accra on Friday 30 August 2024, the Brigade Commander (Bde Comd), 15 Armd Bde – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Ben Gah said, the facility is a shining example of what can collectively be achieved, if welfare needs of troops are prioritized by their Commanders.
He added that the completed project is also a testament to the Commanding Officer (CO) – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) David Kwesi Korsah’s commitment to the welfare of the soldiers under his command.
The Brigade Commander recalled that, during the CO’s induction into office in 2023, he remarked that welfare was one of the pillars, upon which his command philosophy hinges, and thus expressed excitement that the project – which he referred to as an ‘impactful monument’ – was constructed entirely with unit resources, in terms of artisans, funding and materials.
In his welcome remarks, Lt Col DK Korsah cited how acute the deficiency of accommodation was at his command, to the extent that some of the Young Soldiers are being accommodated at the Quarter Master’s (QM) Yard, and at the Warrant Officers (WOs) & Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ (SNCO) Mess.
The CO, who took over command on 31 August 2023, said upon assumption of office, he resolved to tackling the Young Soldiers’ accommodation challenge confronting the Regiment, and subsequently commenced the project on 20 November 2023, and completed it on the 19 August 2024.
In addition to the commissioning of the accommodation on the 1 year anniversary of the CO’s assumption of office, the Regiment has already commenced the construction of a single-storey 20-units self-contained accommodation building for Soldiers, which is presently at the foundation stage – although the armoured regiment is financially constrained.
He paid glowing tribute to personnel of 153 Armd Regt who contributed to the successful completion of the project, especially the Project Team, Lt Henry Benin and WOI Fiador Seth, Lt Prince Duah, WOII Akakpo Lucas, Sergeant Addai, and stated “this is a clear demonstration of what we can achieve with our collective efforts and synergy”.
Present at the inauguration were the Deputy Bde Comd, 15 Armd Bde – Col Ekow Nkrane Mensah-Yawson; Officers, Chaplain, 153 Armd Regt – Reverend Thomas Addo; Acting RSM – Senior Warrant Officer Class 2 Duffuor; Soldiers and Defence Civilian Staff.
This very critical regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, could do with some help from corporate institutions.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
