Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Arakan Officers’ Wives Association, and the Arakan Officers’ Mess have collaborated to hold an End-of-Year get-together dubbed “A Night of Thanksgiving and Dinner”, to bond, energize family ties, attract more to the group, and to share ideas on how they could be beneficial to each other, in supporting their spouses to deliver their best to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
On Saturday 30 December, 2023, at their event dubbed “Thanksgiving and Dinner” at the Arakan Officers’ Mess, Burma Camp, Mrs Louisa Tandoh – President of the Association, took the opportunity to encourage all families to actively participate in their programs, as they do not only strengthen the barracks familial ties, but also provide an opportunity for growth and learning together.
She extended a warm invitation to all the wives of Officers, who have not yet been part of the association and their meetings, to make a conscious effort to engage in their activities, as they bring families closer, help in solving nagging problems, and create lasting memories.
Mrs Tandoh continued that the group is envisioning introducing more exciting programs for their children during vacations, and thus, urged parents to support their wards in exploring and nurturing their talents and skills beyond academics, embrace their unique abilities, provide them with opportunities to shine in various areas of interest, to help them grow into well-rounded individuals.
To the married Young Officers who reside outside Arakan, the Association President implored them to encourage their wives to be part of activities of the group, as their participation would not only enrich their lives, but also strengthen the bond between the families.
The Guest of Honour for the night – Mrs Awo Aidam-Ameyah, called on the women of the association, to have and express interest in the development and behaviour of their children, and not delegate their grooming to the Internet, social media, and relatives, as that mostly results in altering standards the parents expect of the child.
In the bid to raise kids, she said, one should constantly acknowledge that it is a challenge to groom them without the help of their fathers, and that when the children are younger, responsibilities are always daunting.
She continued that it is trite knowledge that children are being raised with a sense of entitlement, and thus tend to compare what their family have with what another family has, and urged parents to discourage that notion, as it makes them vulnerable when they step out into the world.
The Guest of Honour urged women to acknowledge that they cannot play their parts at home in contemporary times, without being spiritually connected constantly to their divine source, as perversion has come very close to everyone in appeal, promise, and readily available.
Mrs A. Aidam-Ameyah said as much as possible, mothers should not allow social activities such as group chats on social media, to take away their spiritual engagements, but constantly intercede for each member of the family at the prayer altar, irrespective of one’s religion.
She also called upon Officers to keep to expressing encouraging words to their women, make quality time for them and talk to them upon return from duty, and to make the world know how important their women are to them, as it revives and propels them to keep raising the kids, without ill-feelings.
She concluded by saying that raising boys is different from girls, therefore, it is incumbent on a parent to learn, unlearn, re-learn, and adapt to the changing scenes of life, but be careful not to keep doing the past negative actions that did not yield good results.
Present at the event included Colonel (Col) Henry Kwaku Badasu; a Director at Ghana Army Headquarters – Col Eric Prince Tandoh; Commanding Officer, 5 Infantry Battalion – Lieutenant Colonel Kwame Owusu-Afriyie; Commander Rear, 64 Infantry Battalion – Major Prince Frimpong Owusu; Officers, families of personnel, amongst many.
