By Nii Martey M. Botchway
Accra, Sept. 25, GNA – The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has held its maiden send-off parade for eight retiring Generals.
The colourful ceremony, held at Burma Camp in Accra, brought together the top brass of the GAF, Senior serving and retired Officers, Military personnel, Defence Civilian staff, families and well-wishers to celebrate the careers and contributions of the retiring Generals.
The eight retiring officers are Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Selassie Gagakuma, Brig Gen Michael Kwadwo Opoku, Brig Gen Augustine Asiedu, Brig Gen Kweku Dankwa Hagan, Brig Gen Omari John Ampadu, Air Commodore Mathias Awuah, Brig Gen Albert Yaw Assiamah and Brig Gen Andrews Seth Mensah Attoh.
As part of the ceremony, the retiring Generals inspected a parade mounted in their honour.
He said their careers had been characterised by sacrifice, unwavering dedication, exemplary leadership and an enduring commitment to duty.
Delivering the keynote address, the Guest of Honour, Air Marshal (Rtd) Michael Samson-Oje, a former Chief of the Defence Staff and Member of the Council of State, expressed gratitude to the retiring officers for their distinguished service to the GAF
“Your careers have been characterised by sacrifice, unwavering dedication, exemplary leadership and an enduring commitment to duty,” he said.
“Your contributions to the Ghana Armed Forces and the nation will remain part of the institution’s history,” he added.
Air Marshal Samson-Oje commended the officers for their contributions to the development of the GAF and the nation, while also acknowledging the sacrifices made by their families throughout their more than three decades of service.
He described the send-off parade as a novel initiative and commended the Military High Command for introducing a formal occasion to celebrate the achievements and contributions of retiring senior officers.
He said the ceremony sent a powerful message to serving personnel that commitment, professionalism, sacrifice and loyalty were recognised and appreciated, and expressed the hope that the initiative would become a cherished tradition of the GAF for generations to come.
“I hope this initiative becomes a cherished tradition that will be sustained for generations to come,” he said.
Air Marshal Samson-Oje urged serving personnel to continue upholding those values, which he said remained fundamental to building and sustaining a strong, disciplined and professional military institution.
Honouring a legacy
In his welcome address, Air Vice Marshal Joshua Lartei Mensah-Larkai, the Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters, congratulated the retiring Generals and expressed appreciation for their years of dedicated service to the colours.
He said farewell ceremonies were an important military tradition that provided an opportunity to honour personnel who had served with distinction and were retiring from active service.
Air Vice Marshal Mensah-Larkai said the ceremony was not merely a farewell but a celebration of the legacy built by the officers through decades of service to the growth and development of the GAF.
“Today’s ceremony is not merely a farewell. It is a celebration of dedicated service to the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.
Uphold military values
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Brig Gen Augustine Asiedu said the retiring officers considered it an honour and privilege to have served the Ghana Armed Forces.
He urged serving personnel to continue upholding the core values of the GAF, particularly discipline, professionalism, sacrifice and loyalty, noting that those values remained essential to maintaining the effectiveness and credibility of the military institution.
Brig Gen Asiedu expressed appreciation to the Military High Command, colleagues, families and well-wishers for the support and recognition accorded the retiring officers throughout their careers.
The maiden send-off parade provided an opportunity for the GAF to formally recognise the years of service of the eight Generals while reinforcing the military tradition of honouring personnel who had contributed to the institution’s growth and development.
GNA
Nii Martey M. Botchway
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong