Kofi Ampeah Woode
The first Commandant of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Training and Doctrines Command (TRADOC) – Major General (Maj Gen) Bismarck Kwasi Onwona, has handed over the leadership of the military think-tank institution, after 8 months of directing the reins, to assume similar helms at the Command and Staff College.
A brief ceremony was held on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at forenoon on the forecourt of the Headquarters of TRADOC, Whistler Barracks, Teshie Ridge, Accra, with the Chief of Staff (COS), GAF General Headquarters – Maj Gen Nicholas Peter Andoh, as the Guest of Honour, as the Commandant handed over authority to his Deputy – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Lawrence Gbetanu.
Incidentally, General Onwona, on Monday 13 February, 2023, took over command of the GAF Formation, from Brig Gen Gbetanu, who would now hold fort until the substantive Commandant – Rear Admiral Eric Adu – assumes command upon his return from assignment overseas.
Presenting gifts to the Commandant on behalf of the Military High Command, the Guest of Honour remarked that, with leadership, one makes impact on the people being led. “When I go to places of command, I observe the temperature of the people, and I can feel that you have positively impacted the Officers, the Soldiers, and the Defence Civilian Staff. That is our job, so that when we are leaving, it would be said of us that we came to serve and we have improved the standards of the people”.
TRADOC, which was established from the ashes of the erstwhile Military Academy Training Schools (MATS), under the relatively short period of command of Maj Gen BK Onwona, has seen initiation of several projects in pursuit of the mission and objectives of the formation, and to systematically resolve some of its pressing challenges.
Some of the developments include; 1) the ongoing development of a handbook by the Department of Research and Doctrine, to serve as an essential guide to the doctrine development process; 2) the proposal of a Steering Committee to provide operational-level oversight and direction to Bespoke Doctrine Writing Teams, which has been approved by the Chief of the Defence Staff.
3) A team of Officers are due for benchmarking and capacity building in the United Kingdom (UK) in October, by the sponsorship of Ghana’s Military High Command; 4) the soon-to-commence construction of a new permanent Headquarters complex for TRADOC; 5) completed construction of a number of new temporary offices with basic office equipment and supporting furniture, for critical staff, using internally generated funds.
There additionally are; 6) the acquisition of new equipment for the Physical Training School – through the help of the National Health Insurance Authority; 7) completion of assessment of the formation’s Information Technology requirement, for the provision of additional computers and related equipment, by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication.
Others include; 8) installing street lights to improve security in the Barracks, via a donation by the Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku; 9) signing 2 Memoranda of Understanding to complete the process of affiliating the Engineer Training School and the Clerks Training School to their respective Tertiary institutions, for the award of higher certificates.
10) Ongoing works to improve and expand facilities at the Command Day Care Centre, which serves soldiers, Defence Civilian Staff, and civilians living in surrounding communities, with support from the GHACEM Foundation; 11) ongoing affiliation processes for the remaining schools under TRADOC to tertiary institutions.
Lastly, TRADOC in OPERATION ZERO, is providing personnel to support the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in a revenue mobilization drive, which is focused on specific mapped out areas in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The collaboration is also intended to bring all consumers under ECG’s digital management platform.
A citation presented by the institution to the Commandant read; “… in acknowledgement of your tenacious and dedicated service towards the operationalization of the Ghana Armed Forces Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) concept. Upon the promulgation and the establishment of this new think tank institution, the pleasant or unpleasant duty fell on you as the first substantive Commandant, and you finally assumed office on Monday 13 February, 2023.
As the saying goes, excellence is not a skill, it is an attitude. In the Ghana Armed Forces, you are known as one of the knowledgeable and result-oriented Generals. Difficult as the task was, and true to your pedigree, you hit the ground running, quickly deploying your experience and network.
In no time, you begun mobilizing resources and championing the course of your idea of a new office complex. Your perseverance has yielded the desired outcome with the award of the contract of the construction of a new TRADOC Headquarters Complex.
The Command also received donations of office equipment and other training aids and equipment for the various schools. The staffing level and capacity building for the staff also witnessed improvement and new direction. You have been an inspiration to the Officers and Men, and your mentorship and zeal have contributed to raising the image of the Command under your leadership. This Command will remain forever indebted to you”.
Present at the event included the Commandant, Ghana Military Academy – Maj Gen Charles Abede Awity; Commander, Army Training Command – Brig Gen Stephen Woseadzikpo Kweku Parbey; Director General, Training – Brig Gen Winfred Hedidor-Dzandu; Deputy Chief Staff Officer, Army Training – Brig Gen Emmanuel Acheampong Baidoo;
Others were the Assistant Commandants, TRADOC – Brig Gen Paul Tanye Kulono and Brig Gen Jackson Wonje; Chief Coordinator – Colonel (Col) Ernest Nyuur; Col Emmanuel Nyante; Senior Officers, Officers, Soldiers, and Defence Civilian Staff.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
