Kofi Ampeah Woode
Colonel (Col) Theophilus Oswald Afotey Laryea has gracefully handed over the helm of affairs as Commanding Officer (CO) of Ghana Armed Forces’ (GAF) Forces Pay Regiment (FPR) from mid-2019, to Col Miki Adusei Nkrumah, who previously was Service Financial Comptroller, Army Headquarters.
A Handing/Taking Over Parade for that purpose, was held at the Square of the FPR Headquarters, Burma Camp, Accra, on Thursday 22 February 2024, and was supervised by the Commander, Support Services Brigade Group (SP SVCS BDE GP) – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Selassie Gagakumah, and the Defence Financial Comptroller – Brig Gen Daniel Kofi Amissah.
In his handing over speech, Col TOA Laryea, who now heads to the Defence Financial Comptroller (DFC) Department of GAF, as Director, Pay & Accounts, stated that his passing of the baton of leadership comes with a deep sense of fulfilment, knowing that FPR is not only a team but now a family.
He continued to say that, over the years, with toil of energy, and the support of all personnel, the Regiment had been driven cautiously with optimism, to reach an admirable destination, where there is clear commitment to duty, professionalism, and unwavering dedication as pillars of success.
In the pursuit of excellence, Col Laryea said, his administration prioritized the enhancement of infrastructure, a dedication to embracing technological advancements for the benefit of the entire regiment, a commitment to providing spaces that foster camaraderie and well-being, and investment in the development and mentorship of the young ones of the Regiment – which led to the institution of the Young Officers and Young Soldiers Orientation Cadre.
Below are some of the transformation Col Laryea has impacted on the FPR, since his assumption of command on Friday 14 June 2019 to Thursday 22 February 2024, building a unit symbolizing excellence, unity, and modernity:
1) Reconstruction of Main Gate; 2) Construction of ultra-modern Sign Post for Unit; 3) Renovation of Guardroom and Sentry Post; 4) Construction of Visitor’s Notice Board in front of Unit Library; 5) Construction of ultra-modern Sign Post for Slater Mess; 6) Re-surfacing of roads and Unit Square; 7) Tiling of Command Walkway; 8) Construction and furnishing of Civilian Administrative Office;
9) Construction and furnishing of Artisans’ Office; 10) Extension of Remittance Group; 11) Installation of 30 Flood Lights in the Unit; 12) Painting of Remittance Group and Booking Group; 13) Renovation of washrooms for six Groups; 14) Restructuring of Central Technical Office; 15) Construction of 500-meter perimeter fencing of Young Soldiers Accommodation Site;
16) Introduction of bulk SMS System to facilitate collection of Cheques and dissemination of information; 17) Extension of Booking Group; 18) Creation of store Room for Booking Group; 19) Construction of car parking Shed for key appointment holders; 20) Re-drawing of Unit logos on Buildings in the Unit; 21) Clearing of the Unit Backyard and removal of debris;
22) Installation of Air Conditioners in the Female Dormitory Block; 23) Fixing of dry lines for Young Soldiers Accommodation; 24) Installation of Air-Conditioner at Accountant General Group; 25) Creation of Male and Female Kitchen for Young Soldiers at the Beijing Barracks; 26) Creation of additional car parking lot near the Canteen; 27) Restructuring of Unit Pay Office;
28) Restructuring of Cashier’s Office; 29) Creation of Internal Auditor’s Office; 30) Installation of internet connectivity for Admin Block, Cashier and UPO Offices; 31) Completion of pavement blocks work in front of Haizel School of Finance; 33) Painting of Unit Logo and inscription of Haizel School of Finance on the School Building; 34) Clearing, filling and leveling of ground behind Group 3B; 35) Construction of slabs on gutters behind Group 3B;
36) Installation of Air-Conditioner for Internal Auditor’s Office; 37) Construction of 4 Squad Sheds; 38) Construction of Training Obstacles; 39) Continuation of 18-Bed Young Soldiers’ Accommodation at Slater Mess; 40) Continuation of 40-Bed Young Soldiers’ Container Accommodation at Beijing Barracks;
41) Construction of exit road behind Haizel School of Finance (HSF); 42) Group Officers tables and Chairs; 43) Slater Mess Gym; 44) Reroofing and renovation of Old Young Soldiers Accommodation at Beijing Barracks; 45) Extension of Remittance Group; 46) Renovated washrooms for QM & artisans office and Haizel School of Finance (HSF);
47) Construction of Sentry Post at the back Gate; 48) Netting at Duala Medical Centre; 49) Tiling of Military Academy and Training Schools Hall; 50) Landscaping of the Regiment and installation of irrigation system for watering; 51) Purchase of Air Conditioners for Army Combat Training School; 52) Tilling of GAFCSC Model Room; 53) Reconnection of power supply from Duala Medical Centre Substation to Slater Mess; 54) Retiling and painting of Group 2;
55) Installation of neon sign designation of major blocks in the Regiment; 56) Re-designation of NE Group to Group 3C and vice versa to decongest; 57) Installation of Electronic Clock in system for Defence Civilian Staff; 58) Replacement of all furniture and fittings in Remittance Group, to modern office work station desks, and swivel chairs; 59) Marking of Regiment Parade Square and designation as Assembly Area in case of emergency.
Other persons present at the ceremony included Senior Officers, Officers, Sergeant Majors, Soldiers, Traditional Leaders, Defence Civilian Staff, Unit Magajias, families and friends of the Unit.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
