Kofi Ampeah Woode
About three years ago, one’s trip to Ghana Army’s Battle Training Camp (BTC), Bundase, would have been mainly the sight of worn-out tarpaulin tents for accommodation for soldiers on pre-deployment training (PDT) towards peacekeeping abroad or internal security operations, but the narrative has greatly changed with the Commander, Army Peace Operations Training School (APOTS) – Colonel (Col) Clement Dingane, further leading the attack of modernizing the once dreaded encampment.
After the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) – Major General (Maj Gen) Thomas Oppong-Peprah had broken the ice to construct a multipurpose auditorium, modern accommodations and classrooms, motivation infected various commanders like COVID-19’s spread, as they followed suit with various ancillary facilities to boost training, without compromise.
As more accommodation blocks are being constructed for soldiers, Col Dingane, via his unit’s internally generated funds (IGF), has undertaken critical projects such as a Water Processing Plant, a 900-Social Centre, 100-acre farm, and a 100-seater dining hall (under construction), to further entrench a habitable camp at the command.
Water Processing Plant
Commanders on PDT had to purchase water from commercial sources and convey them to the BTC, otherwise, if they had their own Unit’s water project at Burma Camp, then they would expensively convey water all the way to BTC, for troops ranging between 500 to 1000. Besides, APOTS needs water to administer its own unit and for training purposes.
When Col Dingane was appointed Commander, APOTS, water was being brought to the camp from Kpone, and Lieutenant Colonel Prince Eric Tandoh – CO UNMISS 10 and Five Infantry Battalion, had successfully sunk a borehole at the camp. Thus, Col Dingane installed the water processing plant that uses the reverse osmosis system, constructing a tiled 5,000-capacity water warehouse between November 2022 and January 2023, and commenced production.
The water production has since been beneficial in administering APOTS personnel, troops travelling for mission, and Operation Halt II duties, all of whom used to purchase water from commercial sources, but are now served quality water at low cost and many others for free.
When the demand for the water is low, due to low numbers of troops at the camp for training, APOTS, intending to create other markets for its water – BUNDASE SPRING – in the nearby towns, has also purchased a tricycle for distribution to prospective clients, and also to the remaining tents and Soldiers’ accommodation areas. The transportation measure is also aimed at freeing military vehicles from being used for the water enterprise.
Social Center
The need for a social center for the camp has been long overdue, as troops, development partners and institutions who patronize the services of APOTS, have lacked a place to sit, rest, eat, drink, chat, and watch television, for recreation.
APOTS has constructed an all-tiled 900-capacity social center, a kitchen and a sales point for groceries, making use of the services of engineers and tradesmen who were on concentration, from one GHANBATT to another, commencing from February 2022, and completing in May 2023.
Then there is the 100-acre farm where the command has planted coconut, mango, cashew, maize and vegetables, to ensure that basic foodstuffs needed at the kitchen or for relaxation purposes, are not necessarily purchased from the commercial market, but mainly from the farm.
These projects constructed from the IGF of APOTS, are intended to become additional sources of revenue for the unit, so they can be used to create more facilities for the troops, in addition to financial support from the Office of the COAS for unit.
Col Dingane is also putting up a 100-capacity dining hall, with a kitchen and store, all in one block.
