Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) – Major General (Maj Gen) Thomas Oppong-Peprah has supervised the handing/taking over of Command of the Army’s pride – Southern Command (S/COMD) from Maj Gen Michael Ayisi Amoah to Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Samuel Yeboah Asare, as General Officer Commanding (GOC).
The Army Commander passed a clean bill of health to the leadership of Maj Gen MA Amoah, at the Oppong-Peprah Square of the Tarantula Headquarters, at Teshie Ridge, on Friday November 3, 2023, saying “I commend Maj Gen MA Amoah, for his instrumental leadership, in the efficient management of the Command, during his tenure of office and for the fulfilment of all assigned tasks with dedication and valour”.
“Under his leadership, the professional posture and integrity of the Command was preserved, through intensive training and sound administration. It is also heart-warming, to note that the well-being of troops and their families, received a great deal of attention, through landmark initiatives such as the construction of new accommodations facilities”, General Oppong-Peprah asserted.
Further noting that S/COMD is well known for its dedicated, professional and enthusiastic soldiers, Maj Gen T Oppong-Peprah, wished the 26th GOC of the Kullum Shirri fraternity, good success in his new appointment as the Commander of the Multi Joint Task Force (MJTF), also referred to as (OPERATION ENHANCED KOUDANLGOU).
In his welfare remarks, Maj Gen MA Amoah recalled his assumption to command in February, 2021, at a time when Ghana was confronted with the challenge of dealing with internal security threats that required a holistic and coordinated preventive mechanism to mitigate, and to ensure stability, beef up security measures across the country to curb the activities of secessionists and terrorists.
To realise this goal, he said he put in place a strategy to ensure that all the Units under the Command live up to the task ahead, in spite of huge logistics constraints, and launched his vision for the Command which was to: Produce a Command that is highly motivated, well trained and well equipped with quality Officers and Soldiers to effectively and efficiently accomplish all assigned tasks, focusing more on training to achieve this vision.
Under the tenure of General Amoah, S/COMD undertook EXERCISE KULLUM SHIRRI and EXERCISE EASTERN SHIELD, and has been involved with numerous operations such as OP AHODWOI & II in Alavanyo/Nkonya and Kpassa, OP MAAIDA BUURE in the North, OP SAFE in Hohoe, Takoradi, and Accra, OP SITDOWN LOOK in Aflao, OP HALT II which is the anti-Galamsey operation, and the collaboration with the Ghana Police Service in OP CALM LIFE.
Others are OP MOTHERLAND in the Eastern and Volta regions, OP BOAFO which is undertaken in support of national disasters and ROADSTAR, the road construction project by the 48 Engineer Regiment and OP PEACE TRAIL, in support of election when necessary.
In terms of administration, his command saw to the completion of the Tarantula Transit Block, the Barracks regeneration projects and the rehabilitation of Command and Camp office Blocks of the Headquarters, as well as the Dei Amenity Centre, renovation of the Operations room, with the extension of the Command Office Block (creating an auditorium, a conference hall and offices to accommodate 10 Staff Officers) and the rehabilitation of the Camp sewage line still ongoing.
The renovated Dei Amenity Centre which comprises of ante room, washrooms, a bar, Officers’ accommodation, Transit Quarters for Soldiers, and a conference room, were commissioned by the COAS.
Dignitaries present at the event included Brig Gen Stephen Woseadzikpo Parbey – Commander, Army Training Command; Brig Gen Eric Aggrey-Quashie – Director General, Department of Public Relations; Brig Gen Frank Tei – Deputy Chief Staff Officer (DCSO), Training; Brig Gen Cornelius Lithur – DCSO – Plans and Research; amongst many.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
