Kofi Ampeah Woode
Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) Andrew Kwofie Mensah (Rtd), a Veteran of the Ghana Air Force who played key role in churning out distinguished Ghanaian pilots, including late Ex-President Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Jerry John Rawlings, Air Marshal Michael Sampson-Oje and Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Matsebi-Tei Nagai, has his name now engrafted on Ghana Air Force’s Historical Monument, as high honour to his memory.
A special event for that purpose was held at the forecourt of the Air Force Headquarters, Burma Camp, Accra, on Thursday, January 19, 2023, and was attended by a number of distinguished personalities such as; Ghana Armed Forces’ (GAF) Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) – Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Frank Kofi Hanson, former Chief Justice – Her Lordship Sophia Akuffo, former Chief of the Defence Staff of GAF – Air Marshal Samson-Oje (Rtd), former CASs – Air Commodore (A/Cdre) KK Pumpuni (Rtd), AVM Eddie Mantey (Rtd) and AVM Maxwell Matsebi Nagai (Rtd) and Member of Parliament for Kwadaso – Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, amongst others.
In a citation honouring the distinguished Veteran – who is a member of the Ghana Military Academy Intake 7, and was commissioned into the Air Force on 2 October 1965, winning the BEST ALL ROUND CADET award presented by Ghana’s First President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah – the Air Force Commander said; “Our debt to the heroic and valiant men in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude and we will never forget their sacrifices”.
It continues; “For the 18 years that you were with the Air Force, you served in various capacities, notable amongst them were: Squadron Pilot and Flight Instructor Air Force Station Takoradi, Officer Commanding the Flying Training School, Air Force Station Takoradi and the Senior Air Staff Officer at the Air Force Headquarters. Your performance on both Iocal and foreign courses were outstanding and that earned you many laurels”.
The citation for the man deemed also as the ‘Air Force Man of the Year 2023’, continues “While Serving the Colours, your dedication to duty and selfless service churned out very distinguished pilots including Ex-President Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, Air Marshal Sampson-Oje and AVM Matsebi-Tei Nagai to mention just a few.
Your meticulous efforts contributed to the setting up of sporting facilities like the Officers Mess Gym and partnering Ashanti Goldfields to construct tennis courts at the Messes. Your efforts at shaping the career of Officers were remarkable. You took delight in tutoring Young Officers in Airmanship and Air Power Studies. Your name will forever remain in the annals of the Air Force Band as your singular efforts in establishing the Regimental and Dance Bands will not be forgotten.
Your success went beyond uplifting the image of the Air Force, as you also took other National and International appointments in the Aviation Industry. You endured challenges and facilitated the remodeling of the F27s aircraft to meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) compliance standards for commercial operations to commence the Airlink Operations.
Your impactful service transformed the fortunes of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority under your Directorship. You helped to train Aviation Medicine Specialists at the Military Hospital and also provided enormous equipment support to the Out-Patient department of the hospital.
To your exemplary leadership skills coupled with your unwavering desire to succeed, you won the National Excellence Personality of the Decade in December 2000 and the African Outstanding Civil Aviation Development Award.
“… and if words cannot repay the debt we owe you, surely by this recognition, we strive to make the best in our time”, the Air Forces Commander’s honour concludes.
Wg Cdr Mensah (Rtd), who retired voluntarily on 1st November 1982, in a speech applauded the Air Force Commander’s initiative, which he said is in line with another campaign currently being championed by an ex-Officer of GAF and prolific newspaper columnist – Brigadier General Daniel Kofi Frimpong (Rtd), for heroes and heroines to be honoured whilst alive.
Some distinguished achievements of the Octogenarian include his transforming the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority – a State-Owned-Enterprise (SOE) – into a viable and internationally acclaimed Authority in less than four years, from being heavily indebted to utility companies to about 85% of its total cash holdings and infrastructural deficiency, to paying huge annual dividends in millions of cedis to the State, and paying fully a major EU Phase 1 project loan five years in advance.
Wg Cdre Mensah (Rtd) performed tasks, especially over weekends as No.1 Squadron Operational Pilot, and flew with co-pilots at odd hours and in challenging weather, sometimes on single engine aircrafts on Medivacs to recover patients from outlandish areas, landing/taking off on the then perilous short airstrips in the Northern and Volta Regions, with virtually no navigation aids and minimum air traffic communications, and delivering critical transformational textbooks and clothing to deprived northern regions of Ghana.
He was also a member of the first ever GAF overseas’ operational detachment of 6 pilots and 2 Air Traffic Officers led by then Group Captain (Gp Capt) Ashallen-Larsen (later AVM A-Lassen/former CDS) to be deployed in 1967 by Supreme Military Council regime under General Ankrah, to help stabilize the rebellious Eastern Katangese Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, ruled then by President Mobutu Sese Seko, and rose to a Deputy/Acting Regional Director level in the United Nations System.
As the Officer Commanding the Flying Wing (OCFW), Air Force Station, Takoradi and the Station Second-In-Command during the turbulent era of Ghana’s June 4 Revolution, he is said to have succeeded with calmness in bringing sobriety and sanity to bear on the then riotous Airmen, thus saving the lives of many Officers, eminent businessmen, the fragile general public peace of the military-civilian relationship in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis.
The following projects were executed to GAF, by the instrumentation of Wg Cdr Mensah as Director General; a) Completely remodeled the Accra Air Force Base aircraft parking areas and environs, b) Established and fully equipped the AFS Computer Centre and trained of IT instructors, c) Co-sponsored the training of GAF pilots and Air Traffic Controllers for various commercial licenses, in conformity with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and procedures.
Additionally, d) he assisted GAF in the reconfiguration of the GAF Fokker 27 aircraft into ICAO complaint commercial fleet of aircraft and supporting GAF to secure commensurate operating insurance coverage for the domestic passenger Airlink Operations, when Ghana Airways folded up its local flights, e) establishment and equipping GAF Officers’ Mess GYM.
Further, f) Collaborating with Ashanti Gold Fields Company to establish the GAF Mess Tennis Courts and sponsoring tournaments thereon, g) Remodeling and equipping the Emergency Unit of the 37 Military Hospital, and h) Trained Specialist Doctors for the military hospital.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
