Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Army (GA) Headquarters (HQ), has observed West Africa Soldier’s Socialization Activities (WASSA) to herald the end of its hectic 2022 Calendar of activities, following a two-year break of non-observance, after series of restrictions from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic were eased.
The fascinating social event was held at the forecourt of the GA HQ, Burma Camp, Accra, on Friday 16 December, 2022, with the Guest-of-Honour being Major General (Maj Gen) Clayton Naa Boanuba Yaache (Rtd), a former Army Commander.
The glamourous event was replete with the presence outstanding Generals such as the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – Maj Gen Thomas Oppong-Peprah, GAF’s Chiefs of the Naval and Air Staff – Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu and Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Frank Kofi Hanson, respectively, the Chief of Staff, General Headquarters – Maj Gen Nicholas Peter Andoh.
Others included Commandant, Ghana Military Academy – Maj Gen Charles Abede Awity, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics – Maj Gen Prince Osei-Owusu, Air Officer Special Duties – AVM Frederick Bekoe, National Coordinator, Ghana Boundary Commission – Maj Gen Emmanuel Kotiah, Deputy Chief of Staff, Administration – AVM Michael Appiah-Agyekum, and former Army Commander – Maj Gen Samuel Odotei (Rtd), amongst many others.
Also present were the Chief Staff Officer (Army HQ) and his Deputy – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Charles Agyemang-Prempeh and Brig Gen KK Kumi, respectively, Senior Officers, Officers, the Forces Sergeant Major and Service Sergeant Majors, Regimental Sergeant Majors, Soldiers, Defence Civilian Staff, Magadjias, Defence Attaches from the United Kingdom and United States Embassies in Accra, and Friends of GA such as Dr John Watson Otumfuo of Mayfair Estates Ltd.
Delivering an address which summed up the activities of the GA nationwide and internationally to the gathering, Maj Gen Yaache mentioned GA’s expansion drive which has seen the establishment and operationalization of new Brigade Headquarters and Units that have given a further boost to Ghana’s state of security.
He touched on the birth of 10 and 11 Mechanized Battalions in the Upper West and Upper East Regions respectively, the 155 Armoured Regiment in the Savannah Region, the disposition of several Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) across the country, the Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB), 15 Armoured Brigade, 17 Signal Brigade, the soon-to-be-inaugurated 7 Motorized Battalion in the Central Region, and the Army Peace Operations Training School (APOTS), at the Battle Training Camp, Bundase.
There also were Career Training Curricula supervised by the Army Training Command at the respective Training Schools, an Army directive enjoining the Commands/Formations and Units to conduct Field Training Exercises such as Exercise FLAMING SPEAR, Exercise BURNING ARROW, Exercise EAGLE CLAWS, Exercise KULLUM SHIRI and a host of others annually, to enhance operational capacities and equip troops with requisite skills in dealing with threats of terrorism and violent extremism.
In addition to International Peace Support Operations, General Yaache also cited the active involvement of the GA in several Multinational Exercises such as Exercise AFRICAN LION – held in Morocco, Exercise FLINTLOCK – held in Ivory Coast, and Exercise CAMBRIAN PATROL – held in the United Kingdom, and announced that Ghana has been selected to host the 2023 edition of Exercise FLINTLOCK in March 2023.
The retired General also reckoned the current COAS – General Oppong-Peprah’s monumental contributions towards the Ghana Army’s Expansion Drive and his exceptional humility in always acknowledging the contributions of Ghana Army’s forebears.
He acknowledged the continuous contributions of soldiers to the peace and security of Ghana, amidst the rising threats of terrorism, violent extremism and other transnational organized crimes within the Subregion, as well as numerous pre-emptive measures which have been instituted by the Military High Command in collaboration with other security agencies, which have ensured the prevalence of a stable national environment and have further created a congenial atmosphere for national peace and security.
The COAS awarded staff who distinguished themselves in various fields during the year. They are Warrant Officer Class II Fiagbedzi Agbeko Comrade – BEST MALE SOLDIER 2022, Corporal Quarshie Doris Horla – BEST FEMALE SOLDIER 2022, Sarpong Grace – BEST FEMALE DEFENCE CIVILIAN STAFF 2022 and Sallah Mensah Philip – Carpenter, BEST MALE DEFENCE CIVILIAN STAFF 2022.
There also were entertainment sessions with cultural displays by Abibigromma, a cultural troupe and climaxed by performances by the Ghanaian musician and songwriter – Martin King Arthur, popularly known as Kofi Kinaata, whose captivating renditions got General Oppong-Peprah to the dancing floor with some dexterity, to the admiration of his soldiers.
Hitherto, a tiresome and challenging 2022 recedes and another unknown but obviously enceinte 2023 with more challenges beckons inviting the brave-hearted, witty and God-trusting, to probe for honour. AHOY!!!
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
