Resourcing GAF top government priority – Bawumia

Ghana’s Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has assured the country that resourcing the Ghana Armed Forces to deal with emerging security complexities and threats in Ghana and the West African sub-region, is a top priority of the Akufo-Addo government.

Addressing the Ghana Military Academy "2019 Special Medical Intake 5" Graduation Parade at the Adiko Square of the Academy at Teshie, Dr Bawumia said: "The role of the Ghana Armed Forces has become even more profound, given the new security threats and complexities facing Ghana and the entire West African sub-region today".

"In the face of these emerging security threats, Ghana can move forward only in an atmosphere of peace and security, and, as a nation, we can only rely on the unflinching steadfastness of the Armed Forces in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure the security of the nation", Dr Bawumia said.

He added that the Akufo-Addo-led government "will continue to ensure that the Ghana Armed Forces is well equipped and highly motivated to combat any threat to the peace and security of our nation".

"The provision of resources and your logistics requirements are one of the major priorities of the president", the Vice-President added.

The Charge

In his admonishing to the new officers, Dr Bawumia charged them to guard the "discipline accolade" of the Ghana Armed Forces jealously.

"Let it shape you at all times in order that your call to service shall continually be devoted to Ghana. Shy away from all forms of behaviours that lead you to the insatiable quest for material wealth, as it has the potential to steer you off your noble calling", Dr Bawumia stated.

Graduating Statistics

In all, 116 officers were commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces. Sixty-five officers constituted the graduating cadet of Special Medical Intake 5 from the Army, 20 graduating cadet of Special Medical Intake 5 from the Navy, and 31 graduating cadets of Special Medical Intake 5 from the Air Force.

Awards

The all-round best officer cadet award known as the "Chief of Defence Staff Award" of the Special Medical Intake 5 went to Junior Under Officer Jerry Agustino Ackuaku. The "Commandant's Prize", the second-best officer cadet of the Special Medical Intake 5 went to Cadet Sergeant Emmanuel Osafo and the best female award of the Special Medical Intake 5 went to Cadet Corporal Araba Abakah Fordjour.

The Ghana Military Academy

Ghana Military Academy (GMA) was established on 1 April 1960 after years of reliance on foreign military academies to commission potential Ghanaian officers for the Ghana Armed Forces.

The Academy grew out of the Regular Officers Special Training Schools (ROSTS) which was established at MATS, Teshie, in 1953. This School provided 6 months’ preparatory training for selected cadets from the British West African colonies, namely: Nigeria, The Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, prior to their being sent to the UK or other overseas countries for further officer training and Commissioning.

Since its establishment, the Academy has produced over 3,500 Ghanaian officers. Some have retired while the rest are now serving in various capacities in the Armed Forces and in the country as a whole. The Academy has also trained cadets from some sister African countries, notably Nigeria, Uganda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Benin, The Gambia, Togo and Guinea. The first commissioning ceremony was held on 30 September, 1961 for 35 officer cadets.