New Soldiers of the Ghana Army have been told to help maintain the fame the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has couched for itself locally and internationally through discipline, self-sacrifice, commitment, hard work, dedication to duty, courage, honesty and respect for the supremacy of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, and be reminded that as soldiers, they are not above the law.
Brigadier General (Brig Gen) William Agyapong – Director General, Defence Industries Department (DID), who was the Reviewing Officer (RO) at the BASIC INFANTRY TRAINING COURSE 1/2021 Passing Out Parade of Seven Hundred and Forty-four (744) Young Soldiers at the Army Recruit Training School (ARTS), Shai-Hills, on Friday, 28th January, 2022, told the soldiers.
“As soldiers, we are not recruitment agents; neither for the Ghana Armed Forces nor for any organization. As soldiers we are not debt collectors, land-guards, or to be bodyguards or security to any private individual without permission from appropriate authority. As soldiers, we must eschew partisan politics”, General Agyapong cleared stated.
He urged soldiers to be wary of the arbitrary use of military uniform and be reminded that there are rules and regulations governing its use, but stay disciplined, physically fit, knowledgeable, courageous and highly motivated soldiers with a high sense of urgency, teamwork and espirit de-corps.
On 30th July, 2021, 752 potential recruits were admitted to the training school, of which 66 were ladies, however, four of them were released for medical reasons, two others for indiscipline behavior, whiles two others went AWOL (Absent Without Leave), leaving the 744 to spend 26 weeks for their transformation into soldiers and graduate at the AWOTWE SQUARE.
The recruits were schooled in basic but comprehensive military training that encompassed Physical Training, Tactics, Weapon Training, Drill, Military Law, Map Reading, Field Craft, First Aid, Liberal Education, Voice Procedure, among others.
The Young Soldiers will soon be deployed by the Army Headquarters, onto its various Units across Ghana, to be part of various assignments, which include Internal Security Operations, such as CALM LIFE, HALT, GONGONG, COWLEG, MERCURY, CITADEL, CONQUEREDFIST, amongst many, however, annually, they will undergo physical training tests, with career and other courses.
At the Awards, Best in Drill went to Private (PTE) Bonaventure Asare, Best in Academics and also Best Female Recruit to PTE Gyan Florence Mensah, Overall Best Recruit went to PTE Lamptey Emmanuel, while KAMINA Coy was adjudged the Best Company.
Dignitaries present at the parade included Mr. Joshua Gmayenaam Makubu – Regional Minister, Oti Region, 2 past Commanding Officers (CO) of ARTS – Colonel (Col) Asiedu and Col Worlanyo Agbebo, the CO of ARTS – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) John Mensah Tenzii, and other Senior Officers from other security services.
