15th Annual Thanksgiving Service!

On Sunday, February 27, 2022, the Retired Commissioned Officers’ Association (RCOA) and the Retired Armed Forces Officers’ Wives Association (RAFOWA) held their 15th annual Thanksgiving Service at the RCOA Mess, located on the Independence Avenue next to the Ghana Immigration Service Headquarters.

The Service is an annual event which brings together retired commissioned officers and their spouses to thank God for His mercies for the previous year. Members who passed on to eternity are also remembered.

It was the first service since February 2020 following COVID-19 in Ghana, and the ban on gatherings in the President’s first address on March 13, 2020, humorously called “Fellow-Ghanaians 1.”

Observation

Before continuing with the Thanksgiving Service, a recent observation by a media consultant comes to mind.

I had told him about a question a classmate asked after reading my mid-February 2022 article “Leadership - Gen Colin Powell!”

The comment or question was, “Good leadership lesson, Dan! But, who is a Four-Star General in the Army?”

Clutching at this, my media friend said;

“General, your classmate is perfectly right asking. Because of my profession and more importantly my association with some of you in the military, especially those in GAW (Ghana Association of Writers), I probably know more about the military than most Ghanaians. But, I still do not know enough! I think the military owes us civilians a responsibility of educating us about the institution so we can understand you, instead of fearing you!”

I agreed with him and re-stated what I told my classmate.

Military

A colonial legacy, the Ghana Armed Forces comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, are modelled on British lines.

They are made up of Commissioned Officers who hold a presidential Commission and Other Ranks or Men.

While officers may approximate Management in civilian organisations, Other-Ranks approximate Union.

The rank structure of the officer corps ranges from Second-Lieutenant or equivalent in the Navy and Air Force on commission to General and equivalent.

For the Other-Ranks, ranks range from a Private to Warrant Officer Class One (WO1). The ranks are:

Second-Lieutenant to Captain are “Junior Officers.” Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel are called “Senior Officers.” Brigadier-General and above are called “Generals.”

Officer ranks of Ghana Armed Forces

Other-Ranks /Men

•Private

• Lance-Corporal

• Corporal

• Sergeant

• Staff-Sergeant

• Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2)

• Warrant Officer Class One (WO1)

Terminologies

In the Ghana Police Service, everybody from the Constable to the IGP is a “Peace Officer,” as we inherited from the British.

The term “officer” is therefore applicable to all police personnel.

However, in the Military, “officer” refers only to Commissioned Officers.

Other Ranks are called “soldiers!” It is therefore wrong to call everyone in the Army, Navy or Air Force a “military officer!”

Thanksgiving service

The Service had the theme “God is our hope and strength.”

The Christian homily was delivered by Rev Lt Col Dr BDK Agbeko (Rtd,) Moderator of the EP Church of Ghana. The Moslem homily was delivered by Sheik Lt Col (Ambassador) US Ahmed (Rtd).

Sadly, since the 14th anniversary Thanksgiving Service in February 2020, about 130 officers and spouses have passed on to glory.

A minute’s silence was observed in their honour.

The Guest of Honour was the Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice-Admiral Seth Amoamah, with Service Chiefs as special guests.

Mr John Watson Otumfour, an engineer and actuary and founder of Mayfair Real Estate Company, was also a Special Guest.

The son of Lt Col Ahuma-Otumfour (Rtd), Mr John Watson Otumfour, has undertaken building projects at the Base Workshop, Services Primary School, Burma Camp and a Transit Hotel at the Arakan Officers Mess etc.

He stated that it was his way of giving back to the system which nurtured him to become who he is today.

The Garrison Methodist/Presbyterian church choir and the Armed Forces Central Band were in attendance.

The offertory was donated to the 37 Military Hospital to support the rehabilitation of Officers’ waiting rooms.

While the Thanksgiving Service is annual, the Association meets monthly.

The RCOA is a veritable storehouse of diverse knowledge, expertise and experience which can easily be tapped for national development as countries like the UK and USA do.

It could also be a think thank for national policy development.

Leadership, lead! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up!

The writer is Former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya & Council Chairman, Family Health University College, Accra. E-mail: dkfrimpong@yahoo.com