Kofi Ampeah Woode
A joint end of Pre-Deployment non-denominational Religious Parade was held by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) Ghana Company 8 (GHANCOY 8) and the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea Bissau (ESSM-GB) Ghana Company 3 (GHANCOY) to enhance spiritual upliftment and esprit de corps of all ranks.
The event took place on Sunday 10 December 2023, at the Oppong-Peprah Multi-Purpose Hall, of the Army Peace Operations Training School (APOTS), Battle Training Camp, Bundase.
The Guest of Honour for the parade and Chief Training Officer Army Training Command – Colonel (Col) Rafat Awudu, on behalf of the Commander, Army Training Command, in his opening remarks, rehashed the theme “Rejoice Because You are Called Out”, and spoke on the essence of gratitude, in reference to a message by a Chaplain of the Companies.
Col Awudu emphasized the uniqueness of both missions and charged peacekeepers to be ambassadors of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), and went further to urge the troops to eschew all acts of laziness in all their endeavours, in order to raise the flag of Ghana high.
He shared his experience from past missions, to draw important lessons that would go a long way to aid the troops in the success of their impending mission.
Preaching, the Chaplain, ESSMGB GHANCOY 3 – Reverend (Rev) Captain N Nsoro, urged the troops to perceive the mission as a special task assigned them by God, and to acknowledge that they were carefully selected to carry out their mandate as peacekeepers.
The Imam of 5 Infantry Battalion (5Bn) – Lieutenant Abubakari , charged the troops to draw lessons from their past, in order to make better decisions, especially in their respective mission areas, and advised troops on the essence taking instructions from higher authorities, in order to achieve mission success, citing numerous examples.
Present at the ceremony were the Chief Instructor APOTS; Officers Commanding for ECOMIG GHANCOY 8 and ESSM-GB GHANCOY 3, and other Key Appointments for both missions.
Credit: ECOMIG GHANCOY 8 and ESSM-GB GHANCOY 3 PI CELLS
