GAF ‘foils plot to annex Volta by aggressor forces’

The Ghana Armed Forces has, once again, carried out its annual mock military exercise to put the officers and men in good shape to battle any eventuality. This year, an audacious effort by aggressor forces to the east of the Republic of Ghana to secede the Volta Region and capture the port city of Tema, was repelled by combined firing power of elements from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Thursday, the 23rd October, 2014.

It was led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Southern Command, Brigadier -General Sampson Adeti, as Group Taskforce TARANTURA Commander.

The loyal forces had to deploy every weapon in its armory to the battleground before subduing the aggressor. The latter’s war commander, who last year lost a tooth in the battle that saw them receiving heavy casualty, but promised a return encounter at the same venue, the Bundase Training Camp in 365 days, this time around, had his index finger severed.

Information obtained from defense intelligence sources has it that the aggressor had always been envious of Accra’s achievements, be it in economics or sporting activities.

The citizens started mounting pressure on its government to improve living conditions there, or the wrath of the nation be visited on it. The aggressor state became unpopular, and opposition groups started calling for electoral reforms, culminating in strikes and demonstrations.

Again, the aggressor state watched with keen interest happenings on the Ghanaian political scene, from the 2012 elections to the landmark Supreme Court verdict, and when nothing untoward happened to destabilise the country, she decided to make some claims.

The first was to go back to history to say that the Volta Region of Ghana was theirs, and that they were taking it back, an action which was repelled last year.

Then, intelligence report reaching the GAF suggested that in the latter part of last month, aggressor’s forces conducted intensive exercises in areas close to her border with Ghana.

During the exercise, elements of aggressor force made incursions into Ghanaian territory, but peace loving Ghana reported her neighbour’s conduct to the world and sub-regional bodies such as the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The aggressor refused to attend any of the calls from these bodies for arbitration, but rather regrouped, equipped with the latest of offensive weapons, and headed to unknown destination.

On Thursday, 23rd October 2014, the aggressor forces resurfaced deep in Ghanaian territory and captured the ferry crossing at Senchi in the Eastern Region and Sogakope bridge on the lower Volta in that region, and made its intentions clear – to take over the port and oil refinery, respectively, in Tema, to land her armament, and refine hijacked crude oil from the Gulf of Guinea.

Battle group Commander Lt-Col. John Ampadu, Commanding Officer, 5BN, ably assisted by his 2nd in Command, Major Botchie, upon whose shoulders rested the operation, prepared his force to be in charge of the ground, pending further action, and was ably supported by the 66 Artillery Regiment, 48 Engineers Regiment, and the Recce Regiment, who moved from their bases in Ho and Accra, respectively, to support the First Battalion of Infantry (1BN), while the Special Forces Commando Unit, the Navy and the Air Force took positions at vantage points.

An Air Force reconnaissance plane spotted the position of the aggressor’s mechanised brigade, as they moved in a convoy to launch attacks on Afienya and Dawhenya respectively.

This report was passed on to the group Battle Commander, who ordered fire from the 106mm rocket launcher, backed by 122mm multiple rocket launchers, known as ‘Yana’, into enemy targets.

The Navy volleyed shots from sea, off the coast of Prampram and Ningo, and when a fully fledged war ensued, the GAF deployed commando units, which applied silent weapons such as bows and arrows to eliminate the enemy leaders.

Present in the bunkers to witness what could be described as the fiercest battle of our time, were the Deputy Defence Minister, Alex Segbefia, National Security Co-ordinator Yaw Donkor, Chief of Defence Staff Vice Admiral Matthew Quarshie, Commandant of Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College Air Vice Marshall Kadri, Directors General, General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, students of Course 36 of the Staff College.

When the dust settled, and the last boom of the bomb was felt, Brig-Gen Adeti, in his war apparel with an amulet to match, moved into position and briefed the media.

According to him, what transpired was Land Combat Demonstration Fire Power of the Ghana Armed Forces meant for students of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College.

He stated that during the period, all ordnances available to GAF are showcased and fired, hence, it occurs every year in October.