Kofi Ampeah Woode
The defunct United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Ghanaian Battalion 10 (GH10), has been highly praised by related authorities for their exemplary fulfilment of their mandate, and additionally, selflessly providing many projects to aid in the discharge of duties by successive UNMISS-GHANBATTS.
The final batch of returning UNMISS GH10 personnel, held their Mission Accomplishment Parade at the 5 Infantry Battalion Square on Monday 9 October, 2023, and were presented with a citation signed by the Ghana Armed Forces’ Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) – Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, excerpts of which read as follows:
“Despite facing some challenges, your battalion demonstrated unwavering dedication and diligence in fulfilling the UNMISS Mandate in Sector Unity. A remarkable achievement was your swift response on 9 October 2022, when a bridge dike posed a flooding threat eventually, due to heavy down pour of rain; your quick reaction prevented a potential disaster, safeguarding internally displaced persons and civilians in Unity State.
This exceptional act earned your battalion an unprecedented citation from the Unity State Governor – Lieutenant General Dr Joseph Nguen Monytuil. You also received commendations from Head of Mission, Force Commander, and other esteemed military commanders, and civilians within Sector Unity and UNMISS Headquarters for your professional conduct and operations.
Through your Civil-Military Cooperation initiatives, and engagement patrols, your battalion made meaningful contributions to the betterment of the people of Unity State.
Particularly noteworthy was your expansive veterinary program which successfully treated over 20,000 livestock. This engagement stood as a shining example of your uncountable civil military activities, leaving an enduring positive impression on the people of South Sudan. Your dedicated efforts improved troops welfare and working conditions leading to an increase in self-initiated projects within the battalion.
Through your exceptional leadership, the battalion performed remarkably in all the four Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) Inspections during the period. These accomplishments ensured that Ghana received the due reimbursements.
In recognition of this extraordinary performance, I take immense pride on your behalf, and on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, the High Command, and the Ghana Army in particular, to wholeheartedly commend you – Colonel Prince Tandoh, and every member of UNMISS GH10, for an exceptionally accomplished mission.”
The unprecedented citation by the Governor of Unity State, South Sudan – Lieutenant General Joseph Nguen Monytuil, presented to UNMISS GH10 on their Medals Day, read as follows:
“IN HONOUR OF UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN GHANAIAN BATTALION 10
On behalf of the Government and good people of South Sudan, we wish to express our sincerest gratitude to the Commanding Officer and all personnel of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Ghana Battalion 10 (GHANBATT 10). The GHANBATT over the period of its tour of duty always rose up to the occasion when called upon.
One cannot forget the immense role played by the GHANBATT on the dawn of 9 October 2022, when there were major breaches in the dikes as a result of heavy rains. Your quick intervention prevented a severe flooding of the Rubkona Airfield, Internally Displaced Persons (DP) Camps, UNMISS Bentiu Camp and other affected areas within Bentiu Town. The GHANBATT did not rest on its oars but continued to monitor, report and repair breaches on the dikes, hence ensuring the safety of IDPs and other civilians in Unity State.
The GHANBATT through its CIMIC activities and Engagement Patrols were able to contribute its quota in diverse means to assist the people of Unity State. Your frequent donations to schools and local communities, veterinary outreaches (about 16,000 cattle, goats and sheep treated for various diseases), skills training, sewage dislodging among others are much recognized and appreciated”.
Below are a summary of the projects undertaken by UNMISS-GH10 from Pre-Operational Training at Battle Training Camp (BTC), Bundase, through mission area in South Sudan, to the return to Ghana:
Construction of 1) New Observation Post 2 (OP2), 2) New Male Officers’ ablution, 3) Amenity Centre Ablution, 4) Bravo Lines Ablution, 5) Soldiers’ Urinal Point, 6) Gymnasium at Leer Company Operating Base (COB), 7) Walkway at Chapel Area, 8) New Battalion Headquarters, 9) New Visitors’ Transit Quarters, 10) Refuse Collection Point at Leer COB, 11) Generator Shed at Koch Temporary Operating Base (TOB).
Construction of; 12) Engineer Workshop in Bentiu, 13) Conference Room Tables, 14) Two Incinerator Points, 15) Butchery, 16) Concrete cubes at foundation footing for 11 ammunition sea containers, 17) 10 wooden frame and 6 metal frame vehicle shed, 18) Officers’ Mess, Dining Tables and Bar, 19) Bravo Soldiers’ Accommodation, 20) New Officers’ Mess, 21) New Army Peace Operations Training School (APOTS) Monument.
Construction of 22) Metal shelves inside the storage area of the Hard Wall Kitchen and Installation of Air Conditioners in Bentiu, 23) Sinking of new borehole at BTC.
Refurbishment and renovation of 24) Cookhouse of BTC, Bundase, 25) Food Cell Storage Extension, 26) UNMISS GHANBATT Headquarters Monument, Bentiu Camp, 27) Compost Pit, 28) Juba Base Kitchen floor and construction of kitchen cabinet, 29) Chaplain Accommodation at BTC, 30) Furnishing for Briefing Room, Lifting of Containers and Roofing of Ammo Storage Area.
Repair of 31) HESCO Perimeter fence at OP2, 32) Briefing Room Floor, 33) Tactical Operations Centre (TOC) Floor, 34) Bentiu Hard wall Kitchen, 35) Spraying of Recovery Vehicles, 36) Spraying of water tanker vehicle, 37) Re-roofing/renovation works at Amenity Centre, DCO’s Accommodation and the Ammunition Storage Area in Bentiu and Leer.
Purchase of 38) 4 x 5HP Air Conditioners for the Rubb Hall, 39) Installation of 5 x 55” TV, 4 x Decoders and 4 x Dish for DSTV, 40) Air Conditioners for Female Officers’ Accommodation units at BTC, 41) General Electrical Works and provision of Security lights in GHANBATT, Bentiu, Leer Company Operating Base, MOVCON Terminal and Bentiu Camp Observation Post.
Acquisition of 42) new laundry machines, 43) Additional medicines for troops, 44) Additional educational materials for Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC), 45) Additional clothing for CIMIC, 46) Additional veterinary drugs for CIMIC.
47) Conversion of 74 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles to meet full military pattern vehicle standard, 48) Replacement of 19 cracked windscreen for Toyota Land Cruiser, Steyr Water Tanker, Hino and Ashok Leyland Sewage Truck, 49) Welding and mounting of High Frequency Radios on vehicles, 50) Upholstery works on some selected Toyota Pickups, 51) Installation of smoke detectors, thermometers and tender arresters for ammunition sea containers.
The final activity was, 52) Presentation of items worth Forty-Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Cedis (GH¢42,920), to the Arakan Medical Centre, at Burma Camp, next day after disembarkation.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
