Kofi Ampeah Woode
The steering wheels of Command of Ghana Army’s 15 Armoured Brigade (15 Armd Bde) has changed hands from Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Ben Gah to Brig Gen Frank Nartey Tei.
On Thursday 15 May 2025, at its temporary Headquarters at Gondar Barracks, then to the Abuga Square of 153 Armoured Regiment (153 Armd Regt) for outdoor formalities, Brig Gen B Gah passed on the helms of Command of the Brigade to his successor, under the supervision of Brig Gen Isaac Nicholas Paintsil – General Officer Commanding, Southern Command, who represented the Chief of the Army Staff – Major General Lawrence Kweku Gbetanu.
General Gah who assumed office on 29 September 2022, at the teething stages of the Brigade when it was barely a year old, inheriting over 400 untrained soldiers, has made great gains during his tenure.
The outgone Commander run back-to-back courses to make personnel effective, as the last batch of troopers are currently on their basic course, and will graduate in August 2025.
Additionally, the Brigade has trained more than 100 personnel of the Mechanized Infantry Units, and run its maiden Armoured Young Officers’ Career Course, laying the foundation for future courses.
In a bid to relocate its Headquarters to Sunyani, Brig Gen Gah led his team to mobilize funds for the construction of the two-storey 36-room Office complex, which is under construction, without Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) main financial support.
The brigade has also harmonized Unit tracksuits, making 153, 154 and 155 Armoured Regiments, the Armoured Training School, and the Headquarters, to have the same set of tracksuits but with customized Unit logos.
A citation presented to General Gah by Officers, Soldiers and Civilian Defence Staff of the Brigade acknowledges his outstanding leadership, vision and dedication to duty as the Commander of 15 Armd Bde, and showing exemplary leadership, operational brilliance and unwavering commitment in his command of the Brigade.
“His strategic foresight led to the instigation of several initiatives which have set the brigade on the path of excellence. Recognising the need to train young officers of the armoured and other corps and realising that reliance on foreign courses was not a viable option, Brig Gen Gah saw through the development of a package for an Armour Young Officers’ Career Course.
In an environment characterised by serious resource constraints, Brig Gen Gah used his ingenuity to ensure the consistent running of Armour Basic and Upgrading Courses, resulting in the clearing of the backlog of yet to be trained personnel in the Brigade.
Brig Gen Gah’s tenure saw remarkable improvements to the infrastructural state of the Units under the Brigade’s command. He facilitated the commencement of construction of a permanent Brigade Headquarters at the Liberation Barracks in Sunyani.
General Gah’s dynamic and transformational leadership, created a culture of innovation and adaptability in all the Regiments of the Brigade. He leaves behind a highly motivated, resilient and efficient fighting machine, poised to excel in the performance of all assignments regardless of the challenges.”
Brig Gen Gah, who moves on to become the Principal General Staff Officer at the Ministry of Defence, expressed full confidence in his successor – Brig Gen FN Tei, who is the outgoing General Officer Commanding, Northern Command – to lead the Brigade to new heights in achieving its mandate.
Present at a splendid parade – mounted by armoured vehicles and horses – included Brig Gen Frederick Dankyi Ntiri – Commandant, National College for Defence Studies (NCDS); Brig Gen Christopher Dagadu – Director General, Civilian Establishment; Brig Gen Charles Budu-Kumi – Chief Coordinator, NCDS; Colonel Ekow Nkranie Mensah-Yawson – Deputy Commander, 15 Armd Bde; Senior Officer, Commanding Officers, Officers, Soldiers, Defence Civilian Staff, family and friends.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
