Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Army’s 1 Infantry Battalion (1Bn) has held a Third Quarter and United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Ghana Battalion 11 (GHANBATT 11) Pre-Operational Deployment non-denominational Religious Parade to enhance the spiritual upliftment of all ranks, and esprit de corps.
1Bn, who form the core of UNMISS GHANBATT 11, held the parade at the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC), Michel Camp, on Sunday 27 August 2023, with the Guest of Honour as the 1 Garrison Commander, and Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command (ENC) – Commodore (Cdre) Maxwell Arhen, who was represented by his Chief Operations Officer (COO) – Naval Captain (Capt GN) Steven Asante.
In his address to the troops, Naval Capt Asante said, aside the mandate of ensuring the territorial integrity of Ghana, its Armed Forces has the additional responsibility of undertaking peace support operations, and it is for this reason that 1Bn has been nominated to serve as the core of UNMISS GHANBATT 11, in South Sudan, with its Commanding Officer (CO) – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Dominic Ampomah, as the CO of the GHANBATT.
He urged the Battalion to be unfazed with the contemporary threat of terrorism, coupled with global economic challenges, and remain resolute at all times to serve God and humanity, support the CO to achieve the set mandate, with cooperation, loyalty and dedication, as the success of the GHANBATT lies with all Officers and Soldiers of the GHANBATT.
Preaching under the theme, “Successful Mission: the Place of God and Man”, the Senior Chaplain, 1Bn – Reverend (Rev) Lieutenant Commander (Lt Cdr) Irene Koomson, urged the troops to perceive the mission as a special task assigned them by God and country, and not just as a means to gain monetarily, and to engage in positive activities, such as learning new skills, during their leisure at the theatre, to avoid falling victim to vices.
The Imam of 1Bn – Lt Col Mensah Samsudeen (Rtd), charged the troops to seriously guard against temptations and acts of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), and not to rely solely on their weapons to keep peace, but to carefully court and engage the communities in their Area of Responsibility (AoR) to win their trust, for a successful tour of duty.
Present at the parade included the incoming Commander Rear, 1Bn – Lt Col Frank Adams; Rev Lt Franklyn Kumi Lartey – Chaplain, PIWC, Michel Camp; Regimental Sergeant Major, 1Bn – Senior Warrant Officer Class II Kingsley Ebow Koomson; Rev Jonathan Mensah – GHANBATT 11 Chaplain; and Rev Martin Martey Markwei of 1Bn Seventh Day Adventist Church.
