Over 6,000 students visit Eastern Naval Base

Over 6,000 students on Friday, visited the Eastern Naval Base in Tema Newtown to participate in this year’s Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) open day.

On March 7 every year, all military installations in the country are opened to the public as part of the national programme to celebrate Ghana’s independence.

Lieutenant (GN) Philip Odoi-Narh, Second-in-command, Basic and Leadership Training School, Eastern Naval Base, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the open day was to build a cordial relationship between the Forces and civilians.

Lt (GN) Odoi-Narh said the day also enables civilians to appreciate the work of the GAF as well as educate them on the technicalities of their services; and described this year’s open day as well coordinated and successful compared to previous years.

He said the visitors were taken through the photo exhibition and weapon training stands, which has in display some light weapons including G3, AK 47, M16 and general purpose machine gun.

The visitors were also taken to the stores department, where the 16 different uniforms of the Navy were on display.

At the obstacle area, students and the visitors were taken through the obstacle course, where recruits demonstrated some of the drills they had gone through, such as crossing obstacle; rope climbing, “fly-me-home,” belly crawl and a 10 feet wall.

The visitors, who were refreshed with soft drinks and biscuits danced to music provided by the Navy Band.

As part of the programme lined-up for the open day, visitors got on board three visiting Italian vessels and two Ghana Navy ships docked at the Tema harbour.

Miss Lamiatu Mohammed, a student of the Chemu Senior High School, Tema, told the GNA on board one of the naval vessels that she loved the experience and has learnt a lot about the operations of the Ghana Navy.

She appealed to the GAF to regularly organize such open days instead of making it an annual affair.