Kofi Ampeah Woode
Soldiers of the Ghana Army have been urged to rise above divisive ideologies, and to refrain from getting entangled in the complex web of political affiliations, as they have the potential to divide the Armed Forces as a united force, and impair the focus of serving with honour and dedication, for the greater good of Ghana.
Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Emmanuel Baidoo Acheampong – Deputy Chief Staff Officer (DCSO), Administration, Army Headquarters (AHQ), who was the Reviewing Officer (RO) for the Passing-Out Parade at the Army Recruit Training School (ARTS), where eight hundred and eighteen (818) Recruits were elevated to Private Soldiers, on Friday 2 February 2024, at Shai-Hills, in the Greater Accra Region, made the call.
Brig Gen EA Acheampong stated that, while it is important to be aware of the world around them and to engage in civic duties, it is equally important to maintain a focus on their primary responsibility of playing their role to keep the nation intact.
He further asked all soldiers to steer clear of religious or ethnocentric strife, as the nation’s strength lies in its diversity, which also makes her a formidable force, and to embrace the richness that different cultures and religions bring to the table of development.
Reminding the new Soldiers of a number of prohibitions of their new profession, General Acheampong told them to keep in memory that they are not above any law in the country’s Constitution.
He charged the young ones not to pose as recruitment agents for the Ghana Armed Forces or any organization, and to remember that they are not just representatives of a uniform, but ambassadors of values and principles, to uphold the integrity of the uniform, and let their actions be a testament to the high standards that define Ghana’s military.
609 males and 224 females, totalling 833 recruits reported to ARTS, Shai-Hills, on 4 August 2023, for training, however, some could not go through to passing-out, due to medical reasons, whilst others were released for indiscipline.
They were taken through basic and comprehensive military training that encompasses Physical Training, Tactics, Weapon Training, Drill, Military Law, Map Reading, Field Craft and First Aid, transforming them into disciplined, physically fit, knowledgeable and highly motivated Soldiers, developing a high sense of urgency, teamwork and espirit de-corps.
At the awards, Private (Pte) Pipim Asante Samuel won OVERALL BEST RECRUIT, Pte Tetteh Peter won BEST IN DRILL, Pte Tadoh Evans won BEST IN ACADEMICS, Pte Ofosuhene Priscilla won BEST FEMALE RECRUIT, and KAMINA Company won BEST COMPANY.
Present at the event included Senior Officers, Commanding Officer, ARTS – Lieutenant Colonel Wahab Issah, Commanding Officers, Officers, Forces Sergeant Major, Acting Army Sergeant Major, the School Regimental Sergeant Major, Regimental Sergeant Majors, Barima Osei Hwedie II – Ejurahene and Adontenghene of Mampong Silver Stool; Chief Of Dagomba Community, Shai-Osu-Doku – Alhaji Alhassan Abdul Latif Lugsana, family and friends.
