By Emmanuel Gamson
Sekondi (W/R), Sept. 15, GNA – The Ghana Navy has held a Memorial Day Anniversary Parade in remembrance of its heroes who paid the ultimate price in the bombing of the Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) Yogaga in Liberia 36 years ago.
The religious parade, marked by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Western Naval Command Cenotaph, was also to honour the memories of all the brave men and women of the Navy, and the Ghana Armed Forces in general, who laid down their lives in their line of duties both home and abroad.
The 36th anniversary parade of the bombing of the GNS Yogaga, held at the Sekondi Naval Base Ceremonial Jetty, was attended by government officials, senior officers, heads of sister security agencies, senior and junior ratings, families of fallen soldiers, traditional leaders, retired officers, and students among others.
Mr Fredrick F. Faidoo, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief (MCE), who represented the Western Regional Minister at the event, said the sacrifices of the officers and sailors who fell during the attack on GNS Yogaga in Liberia, and all other soldiers who gave their lives in the line of duty, stood as a lasting testament to the courage, loyalty, and devotion to duty which defined the traditions of the Ghana Armed Forces.
He noted that the remembrance was more than a ceremonial obligation, but also a national responsibility, adding that a nation that honoured its heroes preserved its history, strengthened its values and inspired future generations.
He said: “As we reflect on the sacrifices of the past, we must also consider the responsibility that rests upon us today, because the greatest tribute we can pay to our fallen heroes is to live by the values they exemplified, and their courage, loyalty and devotion to duty must continue to inspire us in our service to the nation and in our daily lives.”
Mr Faidoo acknowledged the vital roles of the Ghana Navy in safeguarding the country’s peace and security, and its maritime domain.
He commended the officers, sailors and defence civilian staff of the Ghana Navy for their commitment to duty, noting that despite the complex security challenges that continued to confront the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana’s maritime domain remained one of the most secured in the sub-region.
He, however, said the government recognised the challenges under which the personnel operated, and gave the assurance the authorities would continue to put in place measures to support them to enhance their operational efficiency.
Commodore Stephen Billins Nyam, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Western Naval Command, said the anniversary parade served as an opportunity for them to renew their pledge to uphold the ideals and values for which the fallen heroes laid down their lives.
He said: “The men we honour today were ordinary men who answered an extraordinary call when duty demanded it of them, and like many of us, they carried hopes for the future and personal aspirations, while their loved ones waited for their safe return from various duties and missions.
For the great price they paid, their memory and legacy of sacrifice must never be forgotten.”
He encouraged current personnel to be inspired by the sacrifices and legacies of the fallen heroes, and continue uphold the ideals of courage, discipline, professionalism, and loyalty that defined the Ghana Navy.
The Ghana Navy has set aside September 14 each year to commemorate the life and achievements of fallen comrades, who were assigned to end a civil war in Liberia, where a group of West African Nations under the auspices of ECOWAS took steps to send peacekeeping Force to Monrovia in August 1990.
The Force was known as the Economic Community of West Africa Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) with troops drawn from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra-Leone, Gambia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger where the Ghana Navy contributed two ships namely; GNS Achimota and GNS Yogaga, as part of the Task Force.
On September 14, 1990, the GNS Yogaga was attacked by a faction involved in the civil war killing three crew members of the ship on the spot.
In all, 15 ECOMOG personnel lost their lives and others sustained injuries.
Similarly, several naval personnel paid the ultimate price on internal and external operations in the pursuit of global peace and security.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Emmanuel Gamson
Reporter’s email address:[email protected]