Kofi Ampeah Woode
The Army Combat Training School (ACTS) of the Ghana Army, has held a sequel of its Societal/Industrial Leaders Mentorship (SILM) Sessions with Students of the Advanced Non-Commissioned Tactical Course (ANTC 1 – 25).
The 2nd ACTS SILM session intended to enhance the Students’ leadership skills, interpersonal relations, and social networking, in line with best practices, was held at the school, Whistler Barracks, Teshie Ridge, Accra, on Tuesday 11 February 2025, with Mr Wisdom Asco Butsormekpor – Manager, Treasurer and formerly Head of Pensions Scheme, Electricity Company Ghana Limited, as the Resource Person.
The SILM session for ANTC, was also aimed at impacting participants with tit-bits on leadership and mentorship, bordering especially on career development and self-sustenance after their military service, under the theme “Leadership and Financial Legacy”.
Mr WA Butsormekpor, who is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), United Kingdom; Member, Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG); Founder and Group Steward of Native Aid Foundation, has over 18 years’ experience in banking, auditing, pensions, financial management and project management.
He stated that achieving financial fitness is not just about having large income, but also about managing money effectively, being mindful of spending habits, planning for the future and having financial resilience in the face of unexpected events.
He stated that two colleagues could earn the same income, and one of them would be doing better than the other, due to adherence to principles of financial discipline, savings, investing in the right financial options, and debt management among others.
He propounded the benefits of having knowledge, skills, habits and resources necessary to effectively manage one’s finance, putting in place structures that would help limit spending to cushion unforeseen and unexpected future misfortunes, making informed financial decisions, and working towards achieving short and long-term financial goals.
He also took time to talk about Treasury Bills, Fixed Deposits from a commercial bank, budgeting and money management, tracking expenses to live within one’s means, savings and emergency funds, loan, debt management, diversifying investments, Retirement Plan, and Finance Protection through Insurance coverage.
Mr Butsormekpor, who advocated against borrowing more than 40% of one’s basic salary to avoid being entangled in debt cycle, stated however that, it is good to borrow, but one has to do so sticking strictly to the purpose.
He then admonished the Officers to be involved in financial activities that they have a passion for, and supervise their businesses keenly, putting aside emotions to ask themselves relevant and hard questions necessary.
The Resource Person who now becomes Course Patron for ACTS’ ANTC, later toured the schools’ project sites, offered to marshal resources for the construction of ACTS’ ongoing washrooms for each class, and made a donation to support projects.
The Chief Instructor, ACTS – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Martin Dziedzorm Dey, said, lessons drawn from the lecture would go a long way to shape participants’ outlook, as they take up leadership roles at variations levels.
He added that topics such as, Effective Leadership Techniques; Leadership By Example; Empowering Subordinates; Building Trust, amongst others, would inure to their benefit as Sergeant Majors, and also, being able to attain Financial Fitness, to contribute to their overall wellbeing, which is a necessity for good leadership.
Credit: ACTS HQ
