Kofi Ampeah Woode
1 Infantry Battalion (1Bn) – the Ready and Willing fraternity – of the Ghana Army, have held its West Africa Soldier Social Activities (WASSA) with recreation and awarded its hardworking personnel to motivate its troops towards the arduousness that the year 2023 promises.
The exciting event which entailed activities such as female-soldier blindfolding rifle stripping and assembling, musical performances was held on Friday, 30 December, 2022, at the Maj Gen Vib-Sanziri Memorial Gardens, Michel Camp, Tema, with Ghana’s Eastern Regional Minister – Mr Seth Acheampong as the Guest-of-Honour and the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Southern Command (S/COMD) as Special Guest.
In a presentation of the summary of the 2022 itinerary run by Ghana Armed Forces’ (GAF) first to be established battalion – whose history dates back into the colonial period – the Commanding Officer (CO) – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Dominic Ampomah said the Unit successfully accomplished all assigned tasks.
Some Operations (Op) run by 1Bn included Op MOTHERLAND, Op CALMLIFE, Op COWLEG, Op HALT I, HALT II, Op SAFE as well as another security provision operation in support of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) with the installations of prepaid meters in Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo; where in two Districts of the Eastern Region, out of an estimated 24,000 prepaid meters to be installed, 16,000, representing 67% were installed.
Under Op MOTHERLAND in Akosombo, Atimpoku and Akuse, 1Bn provided security for critical national infrastructures such as the Akosombo and Kpong Hydro Dams, the Adomi Bridge, whiles with Op CALMLIFE, the daily night-and-day patrol activities conducted by troops within the Battalion’s Area of Responsibilities (AOR), especially, Tema Metropolis, Ashaiman, Kpone-Katamanso Municipalities and Koforidua Township, led to the reduction of armed robbery and provided a secured environment for citizens to go about their regular duties.
Furthermore, Op HALT I was conducted in support of the Forestry Commission to stem the tides of illegal chain saw activities and transportation of illegally-sawn wood on Ghana’s major roads along the Accra-Kumasi and Tema-Akosombo corridors; whiles in HALT II and Op SAFE, 1Bn is a critical part of S/COMD’s anti-illegal mining campaign and the provision of escort for bullion vans for Bank of Ghana and some commercial banks, respectively.
On training, 1Bn hosted S/COMD’s EX KULLUM SHIRRI – a 2-day Inter-Unit training exercise competition comprising compass march, obstacle crossing and shooting at the Asutsuare Training Camp and was adjudged the Best Obstacle-Crossing team.
The Unit also successfully hosted GAF’s Command Level Basic Non-Commission Officers’ Tactical Course 1-22 for 50 participants drawn from the Units under Support Services Brigade Group, Southern and Northern Commands and in October, the Unit hosted the all-important Land Combat Fire Power Demonstration, at Bundase.
On troops’ welfare, Lt Col D Ampomah, who says he is inspired by a quote of GAF’s Chief of Army Staff – Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah; “If you want to get the best out of your soldiers, seek their welfare”, recognizing troops’ fatigue and hence respite, implemented a leave program to allow as many personnel as affected to benefit, in spite of the heavy schedules.
Through self-help, 1Bn has re-constructed and converted a dilapidated and abandoned structure at No 2 Vehicle Park, to a 30-bed accommodation for Young Soldiers, completed the construction of a 6-unit double room accommodation unit for Officers, started in 2013, and commenced two others; a 550-seater multipurpose auditorium project – which is at the floor concrete stage – and also a 20-bed accommodation block to accommodate female Young Soldiers.
The Unit is also a beneficiary of Ghana Government’s Barracks Regeneration Project with a completed and inhabited 16-Unit 3-Storey accommodation and 32-Unit 2-bedroom blocks, which the CO said has significantly reduced the pressure on accommodation in the Unit.
1Bn’s barracks were adjudged one of the cleanest among GAF’s Units visited by the Serenity Inspection Team, which is a result of regular inspections and the general cleanliness of the barracks supervised by the Regimental Sergeant Major – Senior Warrant Officer Kingsley Ebow Koomson and his charges.
At the awards, BEST SOLDIER – MRS CATEGORY went to Chief Petty Officer II (CPO II) Ofosuhene Eric; BEST MALE SOLDIER – Sergeant (Sgt) Gyaminu Martin; BEST FEMALE SOLDIER – Sgt Asiedu Esther; BEST DEFENCE CIVILIAN STAFF – Madam Akuvugu Janet Assibi; No.1 CO’S SPECIAL AWARD – Warrant Officer Class I (WO1) Klutse Edwin Senam; and No.2 CO’S SPECIAL AWARD – WO1 Osman Mohammed.
Other dignitaries present included the Member of Parliament, Kpone Katamanso – Mr Benjamin Tetteh; Deputy Commander, Army Special Operations Brigade – Colonel (Col) Paintsil; Chief Coordinator, Ghana Military Academy – Col Frederick Dankyi Ntiri; Deputy Director General, Personnel and Administration, GHQ – Col Simeone Barifi Nyante; Senior Officers, Gbetsile Mantse – Nii Teye Kojo Amankwa Sune I, Officers, Tema Regional Police Commander, Members of Tema Regional Security Council, Ex-Regimental Sergeant Majors, Soldiers, Civilian Employees and Magajias.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
