Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Armed Forces’ (GAF) Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) – Major General (Maj Gen) Thomas Oppong-Peprah has expressed admiration for what he called “the burning desires and hunger” demonstrated by Commanding Officers (COs) of the Ghana Army, to think outside the box to contribute their quota towards infrastructural development of their Units.
General Oppong-Peprah said so when he commissioned a 20 bed Female Young Soldiers’ accommodation, which is an extension of the AGBAWU Block (a 30-bed block), on Tuesday 1 July 2023, at the 1 Infantry Battalion (1Bn) Barracks, Michel Camp.
The COAS said the rate of expansion of GAF, with the attendant corresponding increase in personnel, does not commensurate with the rate of increase in accommodation, and hence an accommodation deficit across Units in Ghana’s military. He, however expressed hope, with efforts by the Government, the Military High Command (MHC) and initiatives of COs at addressing this challenge.
He further asserted that, it is essential to acknowledge that the needs of the Armed Forces far exceed the resources to accomplish those needs, and therefore, as leaders it is important to think outside the box and explore new ways of generating funds, to complement efforts of the MHC.
Maj Gen T Oppong-Peprah, who incidentally commissioned the old and left-half of the Agbawu Block on 14 March 2018, as the then General Officer Commanding (GOC), Southern Command (S/COMD), commissioned the right-half of the block, after 5 years, as the COAS.
After inspecting Unit projects, completed and ongoing under the 16-month tenure of the CO – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Dominic Ampomah, the Army Commander pledged further support to 1Bn’s under construction 550-seater multipurpose auditorium.
He specially thanked Messrs. Mr Isaac Amoako of IKECITY GROUP, Mr Jacob Kurwornu of JACKUW MACHINERY, Mr Agyemang Opare of PROLICON LTD, Mr Ebenezer Amanor Dautey of ZION ELECTRICALS, Alhaji Nyandu, a forex bureau operator and the Chairman of TULAKU CATTLE OWNERS ASSOCIATION, and GOKAY QUARRY, for their extraordinary support to 1Bn, in its construction endeavours.
The projects include the conversion of an abandoned vehicle park mechanic shop into a 30-bed accommodation for Young Soldiers, completion of a 6-unit 2-bedroom accommodation for Officers, transforming the old Regimental Aid Post (RAP) at the Army Peace Operation Training School (APOTS) at Bundase, into an ultramodern healthcare center, under United Nations Mission In Southern Sudan (Ghana Battalion 11 – which has a 1Bn core), during their Pre-Deployment Training, and a culvert refixing at the Michel Camp Market.
Under Ghana Government’s Military Housing Project, 1Bn’s share so far, has been a 3-storey 16-unit 2-bedroom flat and a 32-unit 2-bedroom accommodation, which were handed over to the Unit in December 2022.
About 30% of personnel accommodated in the Unit are non-1Bn personnel from the Army Recruit Training School (ARTS), Shai-Hills; Army Peace Operations Training School (APOTS), Bundase; Army Combat Training School (ACTS), Teshie Ridge, Accra; Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Tema; and newly established 851 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Regiment Headquarters, which is co-located with 1Bn.
In his welcome address, Lt Col Ampomah stated that his Unit has a Washing Bay project under construction to generate internal funds, it is also acquiring a tractor with flexible payment terms from Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture, to enhance Unit and personnel farming activities, and is also acquiring a mini tractor or mower to enhance barracks cleanliness,
He requested to the COAS that upon completion of the 550-seater multipurpose auditorium, 1Bn be designated 1 Garrison Officers Written Promotion Examination Centre, to take care of Officers from the Unit, Base Ammunition Depot (BAD), 851 EOD Regiment, ARTS, APOTS and possibly 66 Artillery Regiment and Artillery Training School, who to travel to Accra to undertake the exams.
Present at the event included the Outgoing GOC, S/Comd and Commander, Operation KOUDANLGOU – Maj Gen Michael Ayisi Amoah; Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, GAF – Maj Gen Joseph Prince Osei-Owusu; Deputy Chief Staff Officer (DCSO), Army Logistics – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Kenneth Kweku Kwaah Kumi; DCSO, Army Administration – Brig Gen Emmanuel Acheampong Baidoo; DCSO, Army Training – Brig Gen Frank Tei; Gbetsile Mantse – Nii Teye Kojo Amankwah Sune I; Officers; Regimental Sergeant Major – Senior Warrant Officer Kingsley Koomson, Soldiers, Defence Civilian Staff, families and friends.
