Kofi Ampeah Woode
“We, as business people must acknowledge that peace is produced and that most of the peace businesses enjoy in Ghana, is a result of efforts by military people in this nation and we do not want to take that for granted”, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Institute of Executive Studies – Mr Philip Gamey said as he made the call for more support for Units of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Mr Gamey made the call when the Armed Forces Central Band (AFCB) and Armed Forces Music School (AFMS) marked its version of the West Africa Soldier Social Activities (WASSA) on Thursday, 29 December, 2022, at the Unit Parade Square, Butler Lines, Accra, where he was the Guest-of-Honour.
He opined that WASSA events are great moments which ideally should have its awardees memorably awarded such as being flown to a relaxing resort, “so I am serving notice that some of the awardees will be flown outside for relaxation, at the next WASSA”, the CEO who conjoined his organization’s end-of-year celebrations with the WASSA and awarded his staff jointly with the military personnel, stated.
The CEO said that having been corporately associated with the Unit for a while, he would urge the appointing authorities to extend the tenure of the Commanding Officer (CO) of AFCB/AFMS – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Jonathan Gerard Mawah, due to his outstanding and transformational leadership since assumption of the helms of affairs of the Unit, for the impact he has made and is making.
Citing instances from the Holy Bible to link the military with music, Mr Gamey referred to Israel’s legendary King David who was an Army General, and yet was greatly skilled in music to the extent of driving out evil spirits and calming down situations with that skill, adding that at all events that the AFCB had played for him over the years, it had resulted in awe-struck, joy, tears and uplifting.
The CO, AFCB/AFMS – Lt Col JG Mawah, in reviewing the year 2022 in an address, said although the Unit’s bands are greatly challenged with inadequate and deficient musical instruments, the year saw a revival of fortunes which included the formation of an Orchestra Band, which was outdoored at the GAF Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols ’22, and thus called on benevolent organizations for help.
On the accommodation front, AFCB/AFMS – whose motto: SEMPER FIDELIS translates into ALWAYS FAITHFUL – had a four-unit single room accommodation facility completed and issued to personnel, while work is ongoing on another 20-unit single room accommodation project, which is presently at 70% of completion.
GAF bands are a critical unit ever present at every single parade or ceremony in one way or the other, no matter the day, hour or weather, to add rhythm, music and colour, with personnel often moving from one program to the other, sometimes changing uniforms in the bus due to time constraints.
The event which was heavily patronized, had music, dance and other forms of entertainment provided by the Copy Cat Band from the Ghana Police Service, Musician Joyce Blessing, Peace and Love Cultural Troupe and Agenda Dance Crew.
Awards presented at the WASSA for AFCB/AFMS were: OVERALL BEST SOLDIER – Lance Corporal Dzade Divine, BEST MALE SOLDIER – Staff Sergeant (S/Sgt) Attah Vincent, BEST FEMALE SOLDIER – Private Manu Gladys, BEST DEFENCE CIVILIAN STAFF – Apeti Anthony and CO’s OUTSTANDING AWARD – S/Sgt Gyasi Solomon Yaw.
Furthermore, Institute of Executive Studies awards entailed the following: Best Leader 2022 – Rita Atteh, Transformational Leader – Theresah Ghansah, Best Sales Person – James Ansah, 10 Years of Outstanding Leadership – Mrs Gyamfuah-Danso, Best Employee – Miss Amira, Best Customer Service – Edem Amuzu.
Other dignitaries present at the event included the Director General, Human Resource, GAF – Brigadier General Michael Kwadwo Opoku; Director, Band – Colonel George Abossey Oppong; Second-In-Command, AFCB/AFMS – Major Ackom and Regimental Sergeant Major – Senior Warrant Officer Class II Nagba Clement.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
