President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given assurance that government will ensure the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) deals decisively with terrorism and other emerging threats to the country’s territorial integrity.
According to him, the threat of terrorism poses a great danger globally and that government is determined to deal with the problem, which has engulfed some countries in the West African sub-region.
President Akufo-Addo gave the assurance at the graduation parade ceremony of the Ghana Military Academy Regular Career Course 61 at the Ghana Military Academy and Training School at Teshie, near Accra on Friday.
A total of 161 cadets, including five foreign students graduated at the parade after completing almost two years of grueling military training.
The Ghanaians cadets were commissioned as fully-fledged officers into the GAF by President Akufo-Addo who is also the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.
However, the foreign cadets would be commissioned by their respective Heads of State when they return their home countries.
Paradigm shift
President Akufo-Addo reiterated that issues of security cannot be business as usual due to the new threats being witnessed in the sub-region.
Government, he indicated, approved the expansion of the Ghana Armed Forces to cater for those threats.
“The strategic expansion and modernisation of the Ghana Armed Forces in line with the threat analysis and the acquisition of the requisite equipment, logistics, infrastructure development and increase in manpower, are being pursued vigorously.
“We are determined to equip our Armed Forces to deal with the contemporary threats in the region as well as other internal security challenges and contain security threats from violent extremists and terrorists groups along our Northern boarders”, President Akufo-Addo added.
He urged the newly commissioned officers to help to guarantee the territorial integrity and development of the country.
President Akufo-Addo also advised them to be guided by the principles of service, selflessness in safeguarding the interest of the state.
“The interest of the state should be always paramount throughout your career. Your actions and inactions as officers could have dire consequences for the Armed Forces and the entire nation.
“You must uphold professionalism at all times whilst demonstrating patriotism, discipline and responsiveness while dealing with operation exigencies. Ghana expects nothing less,” he said.
Military-civilian relationship
President Akufo-Addo reminded the new officer cadets that the GAF has maintained a healthy relation with the civilian population and that they should not deviate from that.
“I am reminding you today that your commissioning to the armed forces places a great responsibility on you to guard against the temptation of using the uniform to intimidate your civilian counterparts who are your natural partners in the development of our nation.
“I entreat you to put into practice the qualities of good leadership instilled in you at the academy, lead exemplary lives and ensure the men and women under your command do the same,” he said.
Award winners
A number of cadets were awarded prizes for excelling in the training.
Flight Cadet Elizabeth Ursula Amedimwole received the Chief of the Air Staff award, for being over all best Air Force Cadet.
The Chief of the Naval Staff’s Award – Sextant Award, was presented to Junior-Under-Officer Aggrey Benedict Ekow Adjaye.
Senior-Under-Officer Emmanuel Appiah–Hanson was awarded the Chief of the Army Staff’s Award.
The Academic Cane, awarded to the Officer Cadet adjudged best in Academic Studies of the Regular Career Course 61, went to Aggrey Benedict Ekow Adjaye.
Junior-Under-Officer Asare Kofi Adom was awarded the Military Cane for being the best in Military Studies.
The Sword of Honour, awarded to the best all round Officer Cadet in the Regular Career Course, went as Cadet Officer Emmanuel Appiah-Hanson.
