Ghana Peace
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Stabilization Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) Ghanaian Company 4 (GHANCOY 4), has held its Farewell Religious Service, for troops and families of the Company.
The service was held on Sunday 20 July 2025, at the St Georges Garrison Anglican Church, Burma Camp, Accra, with the Director, Research and Innovations, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Wellington Atippoe Dumashie as the Guest of Honour.
Brig Gen Dumashie, assuring the troops of GAF’s confidence in their abilities, and also praying for their success, charged them not to perceive the mission as a routine military assignment, but as a demonstration of shared dedication to peace, security, and development in West Africa.
He went on to urge them to remember that their work is not just a duty, but a calling, which at this particular instance, is to serve humanity and pursue a better tomorrow for the people of Guinea-Bissau, and for all West Africans.
“The impact of your actions would be felt far beyond today. It will shift the future stability and unity of our region”, he foretold.
Guinea-Bissau, Brig Gen Attipoe Dumashie said, faces complex challenges that threaten its stability, and that the professionalism, determination, and compassion demonstrated by ESSMGB-GHANCOY 4, are essential in supporting efforts to restore peace, promote reconciliation, to build a brighter future for the West African community.
He also endorsed the leadership of the Combat Team Commander of the Company – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Isaac Keelson Ekow Amoah, praying that his wisdom, discipline, and compassion would guide the contingent through the one year mission.
Admonishing the contingent to draw strength from their experiences to support and inspire hope and resilience, the Army General was emphatic that these qualities without God is in vain, and therefore charged them to be minded of Proverbs 3: 5 to 6, to trust in the Lord with all their hearts, and not to lean on their own understanding.
Lt Col Francis Lokko – Command Chaplain, Southern Command, Ghana Army, in a sermon, referenced General Awuku and General Henry Anyidoho to state that discipline, morality, and God, must remain central in military and national life, and that faith, divine guidance, and professional conduct are necessary for peacekeeping and nation-building.
Ministering on the theme ‘Serving God and Country’, he also cited George Washington the American President who said that “Discipline is the soul of an Army”, adding that the soul of the soldier must be anchored in God.
Citing Ghana’s Defence Minister – Dr Edward Omane Boamah, who referred to Ghanaian troops as the salt of the nation, and urged them to preserve their saltiness as they serve God and Country, Lt Col Lokko urged the troops to keep to God’s Word, to help serve with wisdom, courage and integrity.
ESSMGB GHANCOY 4, who are billed to be in Guinea-Bissau on 26 July 2025, had their 7-week Military Skills Validation (MSVT) and Mission Leadership Training (MLT) at Ghana Army’s Peace Operations Training School (APOTS) from 4 November 2024, at the Battle Training Camp (BTC), Bundase, Ghana.
The MSVT and MLT are Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) programs which APOTS uses to equip Companies with the requisite knowledge and skills, to ensure mission success in their respective missions, and to enable them function effectively in the operational theatre.
Prior to the MSVT & MLT, Command Elements and Key Appointment Holders of the GHANCOY successfully completed a 3-Week Mission Leadership Training, which entailed modules such as Tactical Decision-Making Process for Protection of Civilians and Force Protection, Engagement Platoon training, Military Peacekeeping Intelligence and Leadership.
The training provided the platform for fruitful deliberations at plenary sessions, and was climaxed with a 3-day Table Top Exercise, which afforded participants a feel of the analysis, planning, decision-making and reporting on operations at Unit and sub-Unit Headquarters levels.
Peace Journal
