Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Army’s 2 Infantry Battalion (2Bn) has held a Transfer of Authority ceremony for the Commanding Officer (CO) – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Daniel Atobrah Bondah, to hand over the baton of command of the Battalion to Lt Col Edmund Nana Nyarko Osae , after 31 months of tenure.
The Handing/Taking Over ceremony took place on Friday 27 September 2024, with the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Southern Command (S/COMD) – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Samuel Yeboah Asare, as the Guest of Honour of the event.
Paying compliments to Lt Col DA Bondah in his address, General Asare congratulated the outgone CO, for his exemplary leadership, dedicated service and strong desire for excellence exhibited, since 24 February 2022.
He said, despite the challenges the Unit faces in its Area of Operational Responsibility of the Western and Western North Regions of Ghana, which are associated with numerous security and administrative challenges, the resolve of the Unit to contribute to the peace, stability and development of the 2 Regions has been excellent.
He further used the leadership exhibited by Lt Col Bondah, to admonish all military personnel in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), not to perceive quality leadership attributes as the preserve of Senior Level leaders, but to demonstrate, improvisation, ingenuity, initiative and judicious use of scarce resources among others, which he said, are key qualities of good leaders.
“Let us not tarry until we become Commanding Officers, and Brigade Commanders, before we demonstrate effective leadership. The future of an armed forces depends on several factors, including effective Junior and Middle-Level Commanders capable of exercising good leadership to achieve desired objectives” Brig Gen SY Asare said.
He was emphatic that Lt Col DA Bondah exhibited strong commitment, discipline, dedication and professionalism, in rallying all personnel under his command to achieve several remarkable feats.
Itemising notable successes of the tenure of Lt Col Bondah, the GOC cited 2Bn emerging Overall Best Unit in all competitions organised by Headquarters, S/COMD, and collaborating with the University of Mines and Technology, for Certificate Programmes for personnel of the Unit and 2 Garrison.
2Bn also constructed a 14-units single-room self-contained accommodation block for Young Soldiers, an obstacle course for training, a gymnasium, a Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Guest House, an Outpatient Department and Emergency Ward at the 2 Medical Reception Station, renovated existing buildings, rehabilitated the barracks roads, and fenced the entire frontage of the Barracks.
In his farewell address to his troops, he urged them to build a cohesive, versatile, professionally efficient, and highly motivated team that can accomplish all assigned tasks and missions, in their quest to ensure that the coercive power of the State achieves set objectives.
He said that in recent times, there seem to be a disconnect in the social contract between the public and the military, however, 2Bn considers itself as sons and daughters of the communities it operates in, serving the interest of the State, in peacetimes or otherwise.
Dignitaries present included GAF’s 2 Garrison Commander, and Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command – Commodore Emmanuel Ayesu Kwafo; Base Commander, Air Force Base Takoradi, Members of the Regional Security Council, Senior Officers, Officers, Regimental Sergeant Major, Soldiers, Heads of Corporate Organisations, and Defence Civilian Staff.
Credit: 2Bn HQ
