Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana’s Army Commander – Major General (Maj Gen) Thomas Oppong-Peprah, has urged his Generals to ensure the total components of the United Nations Village at the military headquarters are constructed, should he be unable to complete them, during his tenure of office as the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
General Oppong-Peprah made the call when he commissioned the 40-bed Officers’ Transit Accommodation, on Wednesday 9 August, 2023, at the Arakan Barracks, as another component of the already-built 320-bed UN Villa, which has been christened BK AKAFIA AREA.
“I want you all to bear witness to the fact that this construction does not bring to an end the setup of the UN Village, therefore, we will endeavor to complete that, else my successors should complete the project. We have to seek the welfare of our Officers and Soldiers at all times”, Maj Gen Oppong-Peprah said.
Stating his motivation for birthing the UN Village, the COAS said one time when he was Director, Army Peacekeeping Operations, he was checking troops out for operations, and noticed that some of them from outstations outside Accra, had difficulty with temporary habitations before embarking on the peacekeeping mission.
He expressed unhappiness that after being involved in peacekeeping from 1963, there was nowhere for Officers and Soldiers of GAF to lay their heads for such an important activity that brings much glory to Ghana, and thus made it priority number one, when he became the COAS, to launch it as the first project.
On 1 July 2021, the 320-bed accommodation edifice was commissioned and named after one of GAF’s distinguished Generals – Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) BK Akafia, (whose Aide de Camp was the present COAS), at the request of General Oppong-Peprah to Ghana’s Military High Command, to serve as a transit facility for outstation personnel during rotations for Peace Support Operations and other essential duties.
Laying out the plan for the UN Villa, the COAS said it is to have Officers’ and Soldiers’ accommodation, a parade square for pre-departure and arrival formalities, a multipurpose hall, ultra-modern sports complex, a restaurant, and garages where all United Nations Peace Support Operations equipment and stores would be kept.
Mr Kwasi Amoo Serebuor – Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Paragon Homes, who was contracted to build the 320-bed Soldiers’ accommodation earlier, offered to build the Officers’ 20-room 40-bed facility, which was commenced on 8 September 2021, and completely built with his own resources, and christened it OPPONG-PEPRAH BLOCK, to honour the Army Commander for his exemplary leadership.
Mr Serebuor said the building was a fulfillment of a promise he made to the COAS that he would build him a facility for free to help him achieve his vision, which he became associated with when he was the General Officer Commanding (GOC), at Southern Command (S/COMD), and hoped to be able to do more for the GAF, when the opportunity arises.
In a welcome address, the Deputy Chief Staff Officer (DCSO), Army Logistics – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Kenneth Kweku Kwaah Kumi said, since BK Akafia Transit Lodge was commissioned, it has, in addition to housing personnel embarking for and disembarking from peace support operations, accommodated Officers and Soldiers on courses, as well as camping sportsmen and women.
Present at the event included the Commandants, Ghana Military Academy and the Training and Doctrines Command, respectively – Maj Gen Charles Kwadwo Abede Awity and Maj Gen Bismarck Onwona, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics – Maj Gen Joseph Prince Osei-Owusu, Acting GOC, S/COMD and Commander, Operation KOUDANLGOU – Maj Gen Michael Ayisi Amoah, Deputy Chief of Staff, Training – Maj Gen Joseph Aphour.
Others included DCSO, Army Administration – Brig Gen Emmanuel Acheampong Baidoo, DCSO, Army Training – Brig Gen Frank Tei, Commander, Assistant Commandant, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Junior Division – Brig Gen Albert Kwadwo Dawohoso; Brig Gen Cornelius Kobla Lithur – DCSO, Army Policy and Plans; and Army Special Operations Brigade – Brig Gen Paintsil.
