Kofi Ampeah Woode
As part of activities to climax the year 2023, promote comradeship and sportsmanship amongst personnel of the ‘Ready and Willing’ fraternity, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Ghana Battalion (GHANBATT) 11 held exciting array of activities.
Under the auspices of the Commanding Officer (CO) Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Dominic Ampomah, the activities commenced from Friday 22 to Friday 29 December 2023, and ranged from Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Service, Inter-Company fun games, Officers versus Warrant Officers fun games and Officers End-of-Year Dinner.
The first event – the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service – was held on 22 December 2023, and afforded the various companies within GHANBATT the opportunity to exhibit their carols singing prowess by way of a competition which was keenly contested, with Alpha Company adjudged the Overall Best Company.
After the Carols competition, the Christmas Fun Games were held on 25 December 2023 amongst the various Companies in a form of a competition, with events like egg in spoon race, bottle filling, snooker, tug of peace, weight lifting amongst others, with Bravo Company emerging the Overall Winner of the competition.
A Live Band Concert ensued in the evening, at which the band entertained troops in euphoric aura with all kind of songs ranging from Highlife, Hiplife and Afrobeat, bringing together All Ranks to the dance floor to promote love and esprit-de corps.
Then there was the most entertaining of the aforementioned activities, which was the Fun Games contest between Officers and Warrant Officers, which came off on 26 December 2023, which was hosted by the Officers, in table tennis, draughts, ludo and volleyball, and emerged winners in all activities, reaffirming their mantra of “Host and Win”, after which was the climax of events – the GHANBATT Officers End of Year Dinner.
The Commanding Officer as part of his Christmas message to troops sincerely appreciated all and sundry for their commitment, professionalism, discipline, hard work and dedication to duty within the period.
He commended both Officers and Warrant Officers for their professionalism, loyalty and astuteness over the period, and reminded them of the important role they play in the GHANBATT and admonished them to continue to lead exemplary lifestyle throughout the tour, encouraging them to offer guidance to the younger ones at all times.
Lt Col Dominic Ampomah in his remarks during the dinner appreciated all Key Appointment Holders for their ingenuity and hard work towards GHANBATT’s success, ranging from Operations to Administration, since its insertion into the Mission Area, and urged all and sundry to keep their good work up and maintain high standards of discipline and professionalism at all times.
Some of the guests present at events were Chief Superintendent Apaloo who represented the Ghana Formed Police Unit (GhanFPU), Commanding Officer, Officers from GhanFPU, UNMISS Staff, the Regimental Sergeant Major and Command Sergeant Majors.
Credit: UNMISS GH 11 PI CELL
