The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Obed Boamah Akwah, has noted with appreciation the efforts of Government at addressing the housing and equipment deficit in the Armed Forces and thus expressed the hope that these would be increased in the coming years to enhance operational efficiency and morale.
The CDS made the call at the annual GAF End of Year Religious Parade which was held at the Burma Hall, Burma Camp, Accra, on Sunday, the 17th December, 2017, and was well attended by personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, their families and civilian employees of GAF.
“Let me express appreciation to Government for the effort made this year in meeting our physical needs, although there are still a lot more to be addressed, particularly accommodation for personnel and equipment for tasks”, the General said.
Lt Gen Akwa, however, assured the nation unequivocally that no matter their situation, GAF can be relied upon to accomplish any task assigned to it, as he also encouraged GAF personnel to embrace the oncoming year 2018 (a year which he predicted to be as equally challenging as 2017 has been), with hope and confidence.
He rounded up by expressing regret for the loss of some personnel due to road accidents and counseled all to engage sobriety on the roads particularly during the festive season.
The service, which was nondenominational, had two sermons from Sheikh Dr Fridous who preached on the importance for everyone to find and know their purpose of creation and, Very Reverend Professor Kwabena Asamoah Gyadu, Director for the Study of Christianity, Trinity Seminary, Accra, who sermonised on the title “Jesus, our Emmanuel”.
In a related development, the Ghana Navy held the 2017 edition of the West African Soldier Social Activities (WASSA) at the Navy headquarters, Burma Camp, in Accra.
WASSA is held across all units of the Ghana Armed Forces annually to entertain soldiers, giving them a little break from their arduous tasks.
Speaking at the event, the Guest of honour, Rear Admiral ARS Nuno (rtd), who was the first naval officer to be appointed Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), thanked all units under the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), for their dedication to service and support during the year 2017, as various awards were presented to outstanding individual performances.
Present at the event amongst many, were the CDS, Lt Gen OB Akwa, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Southern Command, Brigadier General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, Acting Chief of Army Staff (Acting-COAS), Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Rear Admiral Peter Kofi Faidoo, Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshall Maxwell Matsebi-Tei Nagai.
Also present to thrill the military personnel and all gathered was popular musical artiste Kofi Kinaata, who was backed by the Sealords band of the Ghana Navy.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode, Burma Camp, Accra