Kofi Ampeah Woode
The President and Commander-In-Chief (C-In-C) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – His Excellency (HE) John Dramani Mahama visited and interacted with Ghanaian troops deployed with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG), Ghanaian Company 8 (GHANCOY 8).
The visit on Friday 17 January 2025, was part of the C-In-C’s itinerary for his first international visit since assuming office, and was met on arrival by The Gambian President – HE Adama Barrow, and the Officer Commanding (OC), ECOMIG-GHANCOY 8 – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Abraham Puoriyelle Dery.
Interacting briefly with the C-In-C during the visit, Lt Col AP Dery, who was in the company of a select staff of the Contingent, extended a cordial welcome to HE President Mahama, and highlighted the peaceful security posture within the Company’s Area of Operation (AO), assuring President Mahama that his troops are in good spirits.
The OC also highlighted the contingent’s current situation, focusing on their Operational, Administrative, and Security preparedness, and indicated that they had no Administrative or Operational challenges.
Lt Col Dery however, told of efforts being made to improve on the state of the Unit’s vehicles to enhance operations, to which the C-In-C assured of addressing their concerns.
President Mahama praised the troops for the professionalism of ECOMIG GHANCOY, and for being exemplary ambassadors of Ghana, expressing delight in the conduct of the contingent, and urged them to keep up the good work.
He further talked of the sturdy progress of events back home in Ghana, and assured that although the state of the economy is a major challenge, his Administration was making efforts to improve the current situation.
Although constraints of time prevented him from meeting the rest of the Company deployed at Barra in the North Bank Region, he expressed thoughtfulness of them, and assured of commitment to support them adequately.
Credit: ECOMIG GHANCOY 8
