Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Forces Pay Regiment (FPR) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has held a ground-breaking ceremony for the concurrent construction of two buildings: an Office Block for Group 3A, and an Annex Block for the Remittance Group, to expand office space and other supporting services, to enhance adequate and conducive office spaces.
The sod-cutting ceremony was at the Square of the FPR, Burma Camp, Accra, on Friday 15 March 2024, with the presence of the Defence Financial Comptroller (DFC) – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Daniel Kofi Amissah as Guest of Honour, and Sir Sam Jonah as Special Guest.
Brig Gen DK Amissah said the number of personnel of FPR, both military and Defence Civilian Staff, has increased significantly in recent years, and it is projected that this increase would continue into the foreseeable future, considering the expansion drive of the GAF.
He continued to say that one of the key welfare requirements of the Forces Pay Corps has been adequate and conducive office spaces, and that although measures are being put in place by the government and the Military High Command, it is pertinent for commanders at the lower levels, to also take initiatives to improve on the state of facilities under their care, to promote efficiency.
Cluttered workstations and low morale of troops put strain on productivity, however, bigger office spaces provide personnel with adequate room to work and move about freely, promote better concentration as well as enhance overall productivity, the DFC stated.
He stated that partnerships between the military and their civilian counterparts, are an essential catalyst to strengthening Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) in Ghana, and urged the benefactors of all projects of the Pay Corps, to continue with their social corporate responsibility programmes, as a way of assisting to solve pertinent challenges faced by the military.
Alhaji Ibrahim Misbahu – benefactor for the Office Block for Group 3A at the FPR, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RAMELCO Company Limited and AKANI LOGISTICS – pledged his companies’ unwavering commitment to support the construction of a new state-of-the-art building, with a target to complete the project within 6-8 months.
Mr Kojo Ansah Mensah – CEO of MOBUS PROPERTIES Limited and sponsor of the Annex Block for the Remittance Group, said when he was approached by the Commanding Officer (CO) for FPR – Colonel Miki Adusei Nkrumah, right after his inauguration, he could tell that the CO was a man in a hurry and with a mission to deliver on the mandate that has been bestowed on him.
He added that while the project may not be the grand one they hope to deliver, it is a CSR by his company to the FPR, and would complete it in a couple of months, without marking time on it, but double up for the occupants to move in and do their work.
Sir Sam Jonah is a shareholder and Chairman to MOBUS Properties, while CBG Bank Ltd – whose Managing Director is Mr Dan Addo, are partnering with MOBUS to deliver the project.
Each floor of the single-storey Soldier’s Accounts Block Group 3A features a Coffee Room, Main Office, Eating Room, Lobby, Washroom, File Room, Offices, however, the upper floor has, in addition, a Conference Room.
Meanwhile, work on the Regiment’s single-storey Archives Office project, whose ground-breaking was done on Friday 8 March 2024, has commenced in earnest, and expected to be completed in 11 weeks’ time.
Present at the event included Senior Officers, Officers, Regimental Sergeant Major, Soldiers and Defence Civilian Staff of FPR.
