2BN marks mascot wreath laying ceremony

Apremdo (W/R), Dec. 16, GNA - Officers and men of the Second Battalion Infantry Brigade (2BN) of the Ghana Army on Saturday held a parade at the Myohaung Barracks at Apremdo to mark the Battalion's annual Mascot wreath-laying ceremony.

Thirty-seven men took part in the parade under the command of Second Lieutenant Paul Oboubi, after which WOI Ahmed Abdulai and Lieutenant Ian Adjetey Adjei, Imam and Chaplain, respectively, said exaltations.

A two-minute's silence was observed in memory of former Mascots amid the sounding of the last post. Major Albert Dawohoso, Acting Commander of the 2BN and Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) WOI John Boamah, laid wreaths on behalf of the General Officer Commanding, Officers and men of the Southern Command and Officers, men and civilian employees of the battalion. Mrs Lucy Dehar, Magajia of 2BN laid a third wreath. Lt Adjei said the yearly event for the Mascot, a spotless white Ram, supposed to bring to the Unit good fortunes always, must instill in the troops the spirit of dedication, hard work and loyalty to the nation.

Major Dawohoso later told the Ghana News Agency that the adoption of a spotless white ram as the Unit's mascot dates back to March 1957 when the country achieved her independence. He said the Unit was privileged to be part of the independence parade and due to the smart and impressive turn out, the Governor Sir Charles Noble Arden Clarke, who reviewed the parade, later presented the Unit with a white ram as a mascot.

The mascot, Corporal Charles as it was named, died on December 16 1962, the same day that the donor, Sir Charles Noble Arden Clarke, the last Governor of the Gold Coast also died in the United Kingdom. It was buried without any ceremony because the Unit was on peacekeeping mission in the then Congo, now Democratic Republic of Congo, however successors to corporal Charles were buried with full military honours.

The current mascot, Staff Sergeant Charles VI, was promoted to the rank of WOII by the then Army Commander, Lt. Gen. J. H Smith in October 1998.