Ghana Military Academy is 50 years

Accra, April 11, GNA - The Ghana Military Academy on Saturday held an Alumni and Family Fun games to commemorate its 50th anniversary celebration.

The event which took place at the El Wak Stadium in Accra pitched army officers and their wives against cadet corps who wrestled in events such as soccer, volley ball, basket ball and tug of war. Other games included ludo, oware, scrabble, draught, playing of cards and some other indoor games.

Speaking at the event, Lieutenant General Peter Augustine Blay, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) said the alumni of the academy had initiated a two storey 16-room residential accommodation at the cost of GH¢500,000.

The project which he noted was ongoing would be handed over during the academy's anniversary parade in June. He said the gesture was in response to the urgent need of infrastructure and facilities to make the academy a modern and effective training institution.

"Fifty years of the academy has seen virtually no infrastructural improvement or addition," he said adding that the existing ones are woefully inadequate to meet modern demands. "We owe our alma mater some obligation to change to change the situation for the better," the CDS said. Lt. Gen. Blay noted that the army command had also earmarked the provision of facilities such as a library, a model room, equipment for lecture rooms, residential accommodation for students, lecture rooms, a well equipped gym, a resource centre and a swimming pool for the academy.

Brigadier General Obed Akwa, Commander of the academy said the school had trained more than 3,000 officers and men since its inception in 1960 and has admitted 150 students this academic year. He said the military was a sensitive profession and train people of outstanding character because they are tasked to protect life, property and serve as the last line of defence for the nation. Prizes were given to teams that emerged victorious in the various events.