Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Thomas Oppong-Peprah, has assured Ghanaians and stakeholders in Ghana’s peace that the military shall continue to maintain tranquility and security, and continue to perform its duties within the country and along its borders, to ensure that safety, security and stability are intact.
He made the point when he paid his maiden courtesy call to Ghana’s 105-year-old National Chief Imam – His Eminence (HE) Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, at his residence at New Fadama, in Accra on Tuesday 17 July 2024, to pay a formal homage to the Islamic leader and scholar, with an entourage of Principal Staff Officers of GAF’s General Headquarters.
Lt Gen T Oppong-Peprah told HE the Chief Imam of how he had longed to visit him earlier since his appointment on January 24, 2024, and subsequent assumption of Office on 1 February 2024, however preparations and commitments to equally important schedules had only allowed that he visited on the most practicable day.
He requested the venerable spiritual leader to continue to pray for and counsel him and his team on how to lead effectively, so as to protect and stabilize the country for the benefit of all its citizens, and humanity at large.
After expressing GAF’s belated condolences to the Chief Imam upon the departure of his late wife, General Oppong-Peprah used the occasion to request for the sage’s continued prayers, and good counsel, as Ghana prepares for its ninth general elections, since returning to its 4th Republic and constitutional rule in 1992.
He rounded off that his visit was not only to HE Sheikh Dr Sharabutu as a very elderly person, but an addendum being the connection of the Sheikh’s forbears who wore the military uniform Ghana’s present day military so proudly wear today.
HE Sheikh Dr Sharabutu prayed God’s support, fortification, help, strengthen and honour upon the General, increase in peace and harmony for GAF, and protection of the nation.
He counseled the CDS to be patient, stating that whenever one is elevated to a high office, one would be subjected to all forms of tests, hence the need to be extremely patient and tolerant, “indeed, patience will be the foundation of your further success, for as a leader there are many things that you would see but pretend not to have seen, hear and pretend to not have heard. When you are patient, you will find God close to you to help”, he said.
Spokesperson to the National Chief Imam and Board Member of the National Peace Council – Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, told of the Chief Imam’s connection to Ghana’s military which dates back to one of his grandparents who was a personnel of the Gold Coast Constabulary, who died and was buried at Sampa in the Western Region of Ghana, whose photo is displayed at the spiritual leader’s residence.
An aide of the Chief Imam further recalled that at a point in time, an idea of conferring an honorary rank on the Old Man had been considered, just like the rank of Colonel was conferred on one Robert Gardner in the late Brigadier General (Brig gen) Ignatius Kutu Acheampong era, and urged that the idea be resuscitated, to which the CDS promised to work on.
The GAF entourage included Major General (Maj Gen) Joseph Prince Osei-Owusu – Chief of Staff (COS); Deputy COS (DCOS), Operations and Training – Maj Gen Joseph Aphour; DCOS, Logistics – Rear Admiral Samuel Agyenim-Boateng; Brig Gen Eric Aggrey-Quashie – Director General Public Relations; Brig Gen Assiama – DG Human Resources; Lieutenant Colonel Sena Affanyi – Protocol Officer, CDS Office; Squadron Leader Doegah – Assistant Director, Personnel Services; Lieutenant (Ghana Navy) MM Saeed – Assistant Director, Naval Religious Affairs.
Staff of the National Chief Imam included Alhaji Lateef Abdul-Salam – Public Relations Officer of the Chief Imam; Chief Towfiq – Imam, Accra Newtown general area, and Imam of the Baribari Community (where the Chief Imam’s native tribe), and of Ga North; and Imam Sanda, Chief of New Fadama.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
