Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Army’s 12 Mechanized Battalion (12 Mech Bn) has successfully changed Command with Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Martin Dziedzorm Dey handing over to Lt Col Fredrick Amankwah, to lead the ‘Crocodiles’.
The Handing/Taking Over took place at the 12 Mech Bn Headquarters (HQ), Sandema, in the Upper East Region of Ghana, on Thursday 5 September 2024.
In August 2023, Ghana Army, as part of efforts to position itself as an army that is efficient, cohesive, motivated, well-rounded and capable of undertaking its mission of national defence, created 12 Mech Bn – with Lt Col MD Dey as pioneer Commanding Officer (CO) – to establish a block between Navrongo and Tumu.
The Unit was charged to develop both manned and unmanned fighting temporary operating bases at critical areas, between Ghana and Burkina Faso, and to occupy ungoverned spaces in Ghana’s Northern Frontier, which are prone to terrorist activities.
Lt Col Dey, who assumed leadership of the ‘Crocs’ upon inception a year ago, attained the following feats under his tenure:
Completed negotiations for the release of 1) 503 acres of land at Sandema, on which the Unit Headquarters has been constructed; 2) 1000 acres at Kayoro for a Forward Operating Base (FOB); 3) 4000 acres at Kadema as a Training Area; and 4) 1000 acres at Pina as FOB.
He completed construction of; 5) Battalion Headquarters; 6) Quarter Master Yard; 7) Potable Water Production plant; 8) Barbering Shop; 9) Unit Magazine; 10) Dual Block Self-Contained Officers’ accommodation; 11) CO’s Tied Quarter; 12) Two 160-bed accommodation unit for Young Soldiers; 13) Two Blocks self-contained Warrant Officers’ accommodation;
Additionally, construction has been completed of 14) Two units self-contained Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ accommodation; 15) Unit Parade Square; 16) Central multi-purpose Auditorium; 17) Unit’s Perimeter fence; 18) Armoury 19) 5 mechanized boreholes fitted with water pumps; 20) 4 of 1000 gallons capacity water storage tanks.
Additionally, the CO initiated the provision of power to the Barracks; commenced the development of the Unit Crest, Concept, the Unit Anthem, the Unit Truck Suit and Endurance Training Kits.
The operational activities and deployment of 12 Mech Bn have contributed significantly to reducing the reaction time in curbing potential incidents of terrorist armed groups (TAGs), along Ghana’s northern frontier, and to build upon the efforts of 10 Mech Bn, 11 Mech Bn, other sister security agencies and allied security setup in the West African sub-region.
The Crocodiles Battalion are ever ready, resolute, resilient, tough, disciplined, robust and poised to bite hard, maintain a foothold and dominate gaps identified between the Upper East and West Regions, against any acts of TAGs or violent extremism.
