Kofi Ampeah Woode
As crescendo to training, Ghana Navy’s Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has held an End-of-Course Band Concert for 45 participants of Musician Grade 3 Course 1-2024 (MN3 CSE 1/24), to showcase their skills.
The live Band Concert was held on Friday 6 September 2024, at the Forecourt of the Junior Rates Mess, Naval Base, Tema, with the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) – Commodore (Cdre) Solomon Asiedu-Larbi as Guest of Honour, supported by the FOC, ENC – Cdre Maxwell Arhen.
In a speech delivered at the end of the splendid performances, Cdre S Asiedu-Larbi said the military tradition values the power of music, as an integral part of leadership and unity, and thus extolled Cdre M Arhen’s provision of new band instruments for the Ghana Navy Music School, which he said would greatly enhance the quality of training and performance.
Of the Ghana Navy Band, the FOC, NAVTRAC said through the music they provide, they become the heartbeat of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), providing rhythm and cadence to ceremonies, celebrations, and moments of solemn remembrance, at national and international engagements.
“Research shows that sound, in addition to light, are the modes of communication between heavenly bodies. Our musicians should therefore pride themselves, because they create music from sound which stimulates excitement across the heavens”, Cdre Asiedu-Larbi said.
The Officer-In-Charge (OIC), Ghana Navy Band – Lieutenant Commander (Lt Cdr) Stanley Theophilus Brocke, in his welcome remarks said the 6 months of rigorous training, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence, marks the Navy’s commitment to fostering the Arts, and to support the continuous growth and development of its personnel.
He said the bandsmen and women underwent intensive theoretical and practical training, sharpening their skills in Music Theory, Instrumental Proficiency, Band Coordination, Auditions and Performance Techniques, enduring countless hours of rehearsals, training sessions, and evaluations, often pushing themselves beyond their limits.
The Musician Grade 3 Specialist Qualifying Course Bandsmen and women performed in Regimental, Dance, and combine bands, with renditions of various tunes such as Colonel Bogey, Coming to America, My Grandfather’s Clock, How Long, I Wanna Know, Stars and Stripes, Semple Fidelis, August Town, Missing You, Washington Post, Aseda, Gyae su, Gyegye Ho, Tempo Aprede, Woma Beka Bi, Kutambia, Onyame ye, amongst many.
Dignitaries present included the Acting Director, GAF Band – Colonel Mathew Kwesi Asuka; Command Operations Officer, ENC – Naval Captain Stephen Asante; Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Service, Sector Commander, Tema Port – Assistant Commissioner Catherine Agyei; Acting Commanding Officer, Leadership Training School, ENC – Lt Cdr Achaw Owusu-Danso; Officers, Master Coxswain, Ghana Navy – Master Chief Coxswain Joseph Kpormego, Ratings and friends of the ENC.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
