Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Army’s 5 Infantry Battalion (5Bn) – The Lions – held their 2023 West African Soldiers Social Activities (WASSA), with a donation of assorted items to the Arakan Medical Centre, Burma Camp, sporting activities, and a feast to promote solidarity and esprit de corps among personnel with their families, and to interact with their civilian counterparts, deepening relationship for cordial co-existence and mutual support.
The donation took place on Tuesday 16 January 2024, with a team led by the CO, 5Bn – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Kwame Owusu-Afriyie, who presented toiletries, chairs, television set, medical equipment and other medical accessories, to support the healthcare Centre’s operations, and were received by the Administrative Officer of the Centre – Captain Koranteng.
The Sporting activities took place on Wednesday 17 January, 2024, at the 5Bn Sports Complex, with contests between Officers/Warrant Officers (WOs) and Non-Commissioned Officers, in soccer, volleyball, lime-in-spoon race, sack race, and 4 X 100 metres race.
The feast, which took place at the Forecourt of the Battalion Headquarters on Friday January 19, 2024, aimed at taking stock of the Unit’s successes and challenges, which were encountered in 2023, so as to map out new strategies for further progress in 2024, and had a former Commanding Officer (CO) of 5Bn – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) John Bosco Guyiri, as the Guest of Honour.
Presenting an overview of 5Bn’s 2023, Lt Col K Owusu-Afriyie stated that the primary commitment of ensuring that their Area of Operation (AO) – Greater Accra and Central Regions – remained peaceful and secured, was attained, and would continue to offer their best in assisting the civil authorities in both Regions.
OPERATIONS
5Bn was involved in Operations such as CITADEL – Presidency; BOAFO – disaster relief; CALMLIFE – joint Civil Police/Military anti-armed robbery patrols; ENHANCED CALMLIFE – targeted Day and Night anti-crime patrols; MOTHERLAND – safeguarding borders in Oti and Volta Regions; SAFE – Static guard duties at the Bank of Ghana, and Cedi House; OASIS – Weija Dam and key installations protection; HALT II – Anti-Galamsey; MAIDA BURI – anti-violent extremism and terrorism operations.
TRAINING
5Bn played the lead role in the display of a battalion in a combined arms setting field training exercise at the Battle Training Camp, Bundase, at the 2023 Land Combat Firepower Demonstration, and was adjudged 2nd Best in the Southern Command (S/COMD) Inter-Unit March and Shoot Competition ‘23.
Lt Col Owusu-Afriyie further stated that in a bid to give the Unit the desired image, and boost the morale of troops, The Lions undertook some self-help projects and social interventions, such as; 1) Installation of 12 cordless Closed Circuit Television cameras to augment and replace existing ones for monitoring and surveillance; 2) Expansion of Unit Poultry farm and piggery; and 3) Monthly visits to sick personnel.
He cited ongoing projects as the Construction of; i) a 120 units 1-bedroom 3-storey accommodation for Young Soldiers; ii) a 16 units 2-bedroom 3-storey accommodation for Unit Officers; iii) the Unit Sports Complex; iv) and a commercial water hydrant – to be completed by first week in February 2024.
The CO then assured that with the existing cooperation and commitment of all security agencies, and 2024 being Ghana’s General Elections year – with its attendant anticipated security challenges, especially in the Greater Accra region – 5Bn will maintain peace and security throughout its AO, and will go the extra mile to bring crime to its barest minimum.
He listed partners of the Unit as being the following: Mr Chris of CBC Properties; Mr Zheng Chen – Managing Director of XCMG Co Ltd; Dr Kwabena Agyei of Kasapreko Company Ltd; Burma Camp Pharmacy; Bank of Ghana; Orca Deco; Enterprise life Assurance Ltd; Mr Victor Dei; Mr Nilesh Moore; Mr Daniel Tetteh; Dr Ato Lindsay; Mr Seth Asiedu; Mr George Kwasi Arhin of Price Waterhouse Coopers; Action Chapel International; and Mr Kwoffie.
Guests present included General Officer Commanding, S/COMD – Brig Gen Samuel Yeboah Asare; Chief Staff Officer, Army Headquarters – Brig Gen Barima Brako Owusu; Brig Gen IB Quartey (Rtd); Brig Gen Oppong-Kyekyeku (Rtd); CEO, Awards Centre GH – Percy Kwesi Amuah; various individuals and cooperate friends of 5Bn, Officers, Soldiers and Defence Civilian Staff, Magajias and families.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
