Kofi Ampeah Woode
Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Matthew Essien and Air Commodore (A/Cdre) Joshua Mensah-Larkai have been duly inducted into their respective offices, as General Officer Commanding (GOC) Northern Command (N/COMD)/6 Garrison Commander, and Base Commander, Air Force Base (AFB), Tamale, in a non-denominational Induction/Religious Parade.
The parade, which was held at the AFB, Tamale on Sunday 16 April 2023, was led by the Director General Religious Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Commodore (Cdre) Paul Adjei-Djan, was under the theme: “a faithful God we have”.
Preaching on the theme, Cdre P Adjei-Djan admonished the inductees to listen to the voice of God, since that was key to the success of their tasks. He further encouraged them to be strong and courageous and always be tactful in their dealings.
The 6 Garrison Imam – Imam R Abdul Yamusah, in his homily entreated the inductees to be humble and remember that good leaders always serve to bring out the best in their subordinates.
In his address, Brig Gen M Essien noted that prior to their respective appointments, the garrison had chalked a number of successes, due to its responses to the complex nature of clashes in the northern sector, which had brought relative calm to the region. He averred that together with the Base Commander, they would continue to ensure that high standards set would be greatly improved.
Brig Gen Essien stated that the military high command (MHC) was not oblivious to the challenges being faced by troops in the garrison, and that plans were already in place to provide the requisite manpower, vehicles, equipment and housing, to match the operations’ demand.
He further urged troops to be vigilant at all times, in the face of the threat of terrorism, and challenged them to ‘say something, should they see something’ and continue to remain resolute and cooperate with other security agencies, to confront emerging terrorist threats.
Dignitaries present at the parade included the Northern Regional Minister – Alhaji Alhassan S Shaibu, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs – Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Director-General Inspector General Department (GAF) – Brig Gen Errington Commey, Commander, Air Force Training Command – A/Cdre Reginald Yaw Cole, members of the Regional Security Council, Senior Officers, and families of troops.
