Kofi Ampeah Woode
On the day Ghana Army’s (GA) 5 Infantry Battalion (5Bn) were marking their 2022 version of West Africa Soldier Social Activities (WASSA), the ‘Lions’ still managed to sneak in yet another commissioning of a project – the conversion and furnishing of a dilapidated structure into a 60-bed accommodation facility for Young Soldiers.
5Bn observed their WASSA ’22 on Friday 13 January, 2023 at the Forecourt of the Battalion Headquarters, with their longest-serving Commanding Officer (CO), who served for five years and thirty days – Colonel (Col) John Armah Okai (Rtd) as the Guest-of-Honour, and the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Major General (Maj Gen) Thomas Oppong-Peprah as the Special Guest.
The ‘Lions’, taking inspiration from the COAS’s regular reference to unit commanders being in healthy rivalry in providing for the welfare of troops, by exploring good sources of income, have executed a number of projects in their ‘den’ within the past two years, having constructed a number of self-help projects which include the following;
13 single-room self-contained accommodation units for Ypoung Officers, Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) accommodation project, renovation of 6 dormitories to serve as accommodation for Young Soldiers, Unit Washing Bay project, acquisition of Drinking Water Production Machine for Cool Springs Water Factory, construction and furnishing of a new conference hall, restaurant/dining hall project, acquisition of 7 pick-up vehicles for Unit operations.
Others include the renovation of Officers’ Coffee Room and Kitchen, renovation of the WOs/SNCOs Mess, rejuvenation of Unit Block Factory, painting of building roofs within the Unit, installation of Close Circuit Television cameras within the Unit, sinking of 6 boreholes within Arakan Barracks, renovation of Arakan Officers’ Mess, renovation of Battalion Headquarters monument, and expansion of Unit poultry farm and piggery.
The Unit, which also looks beyond meeting its needs to supporting some sister Units with provision of wood, chippings, air-conditioners, computers etc, has the following ongoing projects; construction of 120 single-bedroom 3 storey accommodation for Young Soldiers, construction of 2-bedroom 3-storey 16-units accommodation for Unit Officers, water-tanker/hydrant project at one of the borehole projects, and the construction of a Unit sports complex.
5Bn, whose substantive CO – LIONHENE – Lieutenant Colonel Eric Prince Tandoh, doubles on duty tour as the CO of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Ghana Battalion 10 (GHANBATT 10), with the support of his Commander Rear – Maj Kwame Owusu-Afriyie, have assisted civil authorities to ensure peace and security in the Greater Accra Region and effecting same in the Central Region, after taking over operational responsibility from premier Special Forces – 64 Infantry Regiment in September 2021.
The Lions participate in OPERATIONS CALMLIFE, ENHANCED CALMLIFE, HALT I and HALT II, which deals with activities of armed robbery, land guarding and other acts of lawlessness; illegal chainsaw and logging activities; and anti-galamsey operations to assist in the national fight against illegal mining and encroachment on concessions of major mining companies, respectively.
At the Awards BEST FEMALE SOLDIER went to Private (Pte Offei Gifty Djanwa, BEST SOLDIER, Courses, Exercises & Training – Corporal (Cpl) Acheampong Ishmael, BEST SOLDIER, Guard Duties – Pte Anyidoho Joshua Kwame, BEST SOLDIER, Artisans, Environment & Drivers – Cpl Blay Mensah Francis and BEST DEFENCE CIVILIAN STAFF – Osei Linda Agyeiwaa.
For extra value of entertainment at the WASSA, there were Drill Display by a contingent of Soldiers of 5Bn, poetry recitals by pupils from the 5Bn Basic School, and music by SrewFace, Mr Drew, Nana Tito (a Soldier of 5Bn) and Pink Five Band, besides other exciting acts.
Entities whom 5Bn seeks to show appreciation to for their support include the following; the Military High Command, Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, CBC Properties, Mr Zheng Xiun Chen – XCMG Co Ltd, Rev Adjetey, Mr Dominic Boateng, Action Chapel International, Burma Camp Pharmacy, Orca Deco, Enterprise life Assurance Ltd, Mr Kwabena Ofosu-Mensah, KOANS Estate GH Limited, Mr Victor Dei, Dr Anku, Mr Nilesh Moore, Mr Tetteh, Dr Ato Lindsay, Mr George Kwasi Arhin, Kasapreko Company Ltd, Mr Kwoffie and Ambassador Edward Boateng.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion include GAF’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics – Maj Gen Prince Osei-Owusu, General Officer Commanding, Southern Command – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Michael Ayisi Amoah, Commander, Army Special Operations Brigade – Brig Gen Barima Brako Owusu, Senior Officers, COs, Officers, RSMs, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Soldiers, Magajias, Defence Civilian Staff, families and friends of 5Bn.
