GMA Intake 7 celebrates 60th Anniversary of Commission
On Sunday, November 23, 2025, Ghana Military Academy (GMA) Intake 7 held a Thanksgiving Service at the Garrison Methodist/Presbyterian Church (GMPC), Burma Camp, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of their commission into the Ghana Armed Forces as officers.
The service was followed by a reception at the Air Force Officers Mess. In October 1965, they were the last batch of officers Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah commissioned before his overthrow in the 24th February 1966 coup.
GMA Intake 7
Intake 7 is the seventh cohort of officer-cadets to be commissioned as officers after their basic training in the GMA.
Starting in the early 1950s, Ghanaian officer-cadets, together with their counterparts from the British West African colonies of Nigeria, Gambia and Sierra Leone, were trained and commissioned in the UK, after a basic training of six months at the Military Academy and Training Schools (MATS), Teshie.
On April 1, 1961, however, as part of his “Ghananisation policy,” Dr Kwame Nkrumah started the training and commissioning of officers in Ghana.
The first batch, “Intake One” was commissioned in September 1961 after 18 months of training.
Intake 7 was commissioned in October 1965.
This diverse assembly of officers comprised Regular and Short Service Commission (SSC) officers, and also a special group of university graduates.
Perhaps, the icing on the cake was a group of lady officers called the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC), the first female officers to be commissioned.
Starting with 103 officers in 1965, nature has taken its toll on them, leaving 31 at their 60th anniversary on Sunday, November 23, 2025. The average age of Intake 7 is 83.
President
In his address, the President of Intake 7, Brig. Gen. Joe Kwateng (Rtd), highlighted the contributions of the intake internationally and nationally.
He mentioned Lt Gen Seth Obeng (Rtd), who served the world as a UN Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Subsequently, he became the Chief of the
Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), leaving behind a legacy of professionalism and a reputation of one of the finest CDSs Ghana has ever produced.
He also talked about the intake producing Service Chiefs, Commandants, Defence Attaches, Commanding Officers GMA, and a Director General, Ghana Civil Aviation Company.
The intake also produced the first batch of combat fighter pilots for the Ghana Air Force. Indeed, three of them were at the function.
In the field of academia, the intake produced Prof. E. H. Amonoo-Neizer, former Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
On the downside, the president stated that with the natural ageing process with its attendant medical issues, many lack the financial strength to take care of themselves because of high medication costs/meagre pensions.
The Intake has therefore created a fund into which donations are made to help the needy.
He added that the CDS and his Service Chiefs had already made generous contributions to the fund.
Guest of honour
Representing the CDS Lt Gen William Agyapong, the Guest of honour for the occasion was the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Rear-Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing. In his speech, which eulogised
Intake 7 for their outstanding contribution to world peace, national development, and growth of the GAF, Admiral Bessing commended and congratulated them for their selfless devotion to duty, for God and country!
On behalf of the CDS and the GAF, the Admiral thanked Intake 7 for their selfless sacrifice to the GAF, Ghana and the world.
To say Intake 7 enjoys iconic status as one of the finest intakes in the Ghana Armed Forces might be an understatement.
During the Service at Burma Camp, Chaplain Rev. Cdr DB Quayson listed a whole catalogue of achievements by Intake 7 during their service in the GAF. In spite of age telling on them, they were very cheerful and carried themselves with the dignity of yesteryears in their younger days.
Particularly impressive was the commanding voice with which 91-year-old Maj Letitia Reindorf (Rtd) told the story of how Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah introduced women into the GAF through the WAC.
Such is the camaraderie and humaneness among them that Intake 7 has launched a special fund to support/assist their less fortunate colleagues in retirement!
Intake 7, well done for your selfless sacrifices and contributions to Ghana and the world. In modern-day “Gen-Z” parlance, it will be said, “Intake 7! You do all!” God bless you! You have exemplified the Biblical quote:
“I have fought a good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me that day – and not only to me, but also to all those who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4, 7-8).
To one of my earliest commanders, then Capt Seth Obeng, CO Medium Mortar Regiment, Ho in 1974, (later Lt Gen and CDS); my CO when I was an instructor in the Ghana Military Academy in 1985-1986, Lt Col AYK Disu; my Defence Attaché in Nigeria in 1989-90, when I was a student at the Senior Command and Staff College’ Jaji-Kaduna, Nigeria, Gp Capt George Aryeetey; and my Commandant MATS in 2001- 2002, when I was the CO GMA, Rear-Admiral JY Adoko, I thank you all for your mentorship! To Wg Cdr Patrick Sogbordjor, thank you for being a role model!
To the indefatigable Wg Cdr Andy Mensah (my “Senior Boy” of MOBA 1961), former DG, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and former Deputy Director-General for Civil Aviation for West and Central Africa, who did the bulk of the spadework for the 60th anniversary’s success, and also the MC for the occasion, your mates say “ayekoo!” Well done, Sir!
Leadership, lead by example/integrity! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up!
The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya/Council Chairman, Family Health University, Accra.
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