January 7, 2026! - Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) writes
The morning of Wednesday, January 7, 2026, saw me smiling as I listened to the 6 am news during my walk.
The date was interesting and significant for me for two reasons. Firstly, the presenter reminded us, listeners, that it was Constitution Day, as Ghana’s Fourth Republican Constitution became operational thirty-three years earlier on January 7, 1993.
The smile was occasioned partly by the reminder that I was a member of the Consultative-Assembly, which drafted the Constitution in 1991-1992. Secondly, for Ghana’s “Millennium-Parade” of Friday, January 7, 2000, twenty-six years earlier at the Black-Star Square, the Parade-Commander was Colonel Dan Frimpong, Commanding Officer, Ghana Military Academy, as I was then.
The combined effect of these two facts of history dawning on me loosened my facial muscles into that broad smile!
Before I continue, I have a correction. In my article last week titled “Names of Houses in Secondary Schools,” I stated that Achimota School was established by the Anglican Church.
I have been corrected by my friend/colleague writer Kofi Otutu Adu Labi Esq that Achimota was established by the State, and not the Anglican Church.
However, the first headmaster was an Anglican priest.
I apologise for the mistake.
Consultative Assembly
On July 31, 1991, a Committee of nine Experts, established under PNDC Law 252 (1991), headed by Nana Dr Samuel Kwadwo Boaten (SKB) Asante, presented a 252-page draft report/proposal to the PNDC government to transition it from a military dictatorship to a civilian democratic rule, following intense international pressure, as well as local pressure from the Movement for Freedom and Justice (MFJ), etc.
This report formed the basis of the work of the 258-member Consultative Assembly, leading to the Fourth Republican Constitution in April 1992.
Originally meant to have 260 members, the Ghana Bar Association and the National Union of Ghana Students refused to send representatives following disagreements.
I was one of the eight representatives of the Ghana Armed Forces, comprising four officers and four men in the 258-member Consultative Assembly.
The nine-member Committee of Experts was comprised of the following:
1. Nana Dr SKB Asante – Chairman, lawyer, academic and Paramount Chief of Asokore-Ashanti. Members were:
2. Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr Agyemang Badu, Omanhene of Dormaa
3. Mrs Justice Annie Jiagge –Retired Appeal Court Judge
4. Mr LJ Chinery-Hesse, a Legal draughtsman
5. Ebo Bentsi-Enchill, a lawyer
6. Dr Afari-Gyan, Lecturer, Department of Political Science, University of Ghana
7. Dr Charles Jebuni, Lecturer in Economics, University of Ghana.
8. Dr EVO Danquah, Law Lecturer, University of Ghana
9. Mrs S Ofori Boateng, Director Legal Drafting, Office of the Attorney-General and Member Secretary.
The draft document by the “SKB Asante Committee-of-Experts” proposed two options for consideration by the Consultative Assembly.
They were what became known as the “winner-takes-all system” and the Proportional Representation.
For some reason, which many attributed to a government directive, the Proportional Representation option was not considered at all for discussion.
The Speaker of the Consultative Assembly was Pe Rowland Ayagitam II, the Chiana Pio. Justice Robert Hayfrom -Benjamin served as our first Deputy Speaker, while Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo was our Second Deputy Speaker.
Working between 1991 and 1992, the Consultative Assembly submitted its draft Constitution to the PNDC on March 30, 1992. Rather controversially, an indemnity clause for PNDC members, which was not discussed, was inserted into the Constitution at the eleventh hour of the last day of our sitting.
A referendum on April 28, 1992, approved the draft Constitution with 92%. The 1992 Constitution came into Force on January 7, 1993.
Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which is still operational, is currently under review by the Professor H Kwasi Prempeh Constitutional Review Commission (CRC). Earlier, the Professor Fiadjoe Constitution Review Commission, set up in January 2010 by President Attah-Mills, submitted its report in December 2011.
“Millennium-Parade”
The second cause of my broad smile on the morning of January 7, 2026, was my recollection of the “Millennium-Parade” I commanded on January 7, 2000. Worldwide anticipation of the entry into a new millennium, 2000, from December 31, 1999, was fraught with fear, anxiety/speculation, from the scientific to the supernatural to the superstitious.
Command of the Millennium Parade was not exempt from these fears. But, for me, as the Commanding Officer of the Ghana Military Academy (CO GMA), busy training cadets, I considered myself “safe” as there was no precedent of a CO GMA commanding a national parade.
So, when I read the letter on December 4, 1999, appointing me the Parade Commander, I sighed, asking, “O God, who did this to me and why?”
Majestic
For many years, Majestic majestically dominated Black Star Square parades as Ghana’s foremost parade horse. The choice of the name Majestic was apt, as the mighty stallion was majestic in all respects. He was handsome, intelligent, strong and regal, commanding instant respect and admiration.
Introducing him to me as my parade-horse when I was tasked in early December 1999 to command the Millennium-Parade a month away, my riding instructor then Sgt (now ex-WO1) Suka, a tough soldier/rider, told me,
“Sir, Majestic is a very proud horse. You either ride him, or he rides you!”
He recounted instances in which Majestic had messed up parade commanders in earlier years, with dire consequences to their careers.
With this advice/warning, I gave my instructor a blank cheque to do anything to me to ensure a successful parade!
Soon, the strenuous killer horsemanship training he subjected me to made me regret my decision.
But he toughened me as I lost five-kilograms in a month.
Majestic and I soon developed mutual respect and became friends.
Having discovered that Majestic had a sweet tooth, I started my day with him at 6 am after my physical training from 5 am, by giving him sugar, which he happily licked from my palm.
Thereafter, my instructor and I would ride to our training grounds between Burma Camp, Teshie and the Kpeshie-Lagoon.
Today, the whole area now called “Tse-Addo” is heavily populated with buildings!
Fear-of-Snakes
An early lesson I learnt the hard way was that, like many humans, horses fear snakes.
While training one morning, a snake glided across us.
On seeing the snake, Majestic turned back and took off straight for the stables some 3kms away with his mouth wide open and head in the sky.
That day, I understood practically the theory Mr Banerjee taught us in Physics at school about what “horsepower” meant.
With a horse’s strength of more than ten humans combined, no amount of pulling with all my strength could stop him from speeding to the stables.
Bad as I thought the snake experience was, it was to prove beneficial later.
During the rehearsals at the Black-Star-Square, I warned the Information Services/GBC journalists not to bring any cables close to me, as Majestic would take it for a snake.
Unfortunately, on the D-Day, January 7, 2000, a gentleman came out of an Information Services vehicle with a cable roll.
Anticipating he was going to throw it in my direction, I quickly jerked Majestic’s head 45 degrees in the opposite direction.
Immediately, he saw the cable thrown, Majestic reared on its hind legs and attempted to take off to his favourite destination for his victims, the Marine-Drive Beach behind the Black-Star-Square.
My anticipation paid off when he only succeeded in bringing me to my original position, at great cost to my left shoulder, my sword being in my right hand.
Sense-of-Smell
Until my very close encounter with Majestic, I did not know that, like dogs, horses have a strong sense-of-smell, though to a lesser degree.
My instructor told me they could tell every morning when I was about 3 km away from the stable.
On picking my scent, an excited Majestic would start flapping his ears, knowing his sugar would soon arrive.
My “Manager” later complained that Majestic ate all the sugar in our home!
My day with Majestic ended with me giving him round-two of sugar before we parted company.
Just before I mounted him on January 7, 2000, for the communication gadgets to be fixed on me, I put my arms around his neck/mane and said,
“Majestic, today is our final day. Be a good boy and let’s have a good parade!”
To my surprise, Majestic nodded in acknowledgement. For confirmation, I repeated what I said, and he again acknowledged it with a nod.
The Millennium parade started at 9 am, and three hours later, Majestic and I trotted off the Black-Star-Square, tired, but happy with ourselves from the thunderous applause we received.
Like dogs, horses can be very loving and affectionate. Majestic and I remained friends until he died in March 2010 of old-age at 30, which translated into a human age of about 90 years.
I have been asked if horses are dangerous. Generally, they are not. However, if approached from the rear, horses sense danger of being attacked.
Their hind legs can be a dangerous/fatal weapon when they kick, considering their immense strength.
One must, therefore, always approach a horse from the front and never from the rear.
Discussion
January 7, 2026, brought memories of my role in the drafting of Ghana’s Fourth Republican Constitution (1992) and as Parade Commander for the “Millennium-Parade” (2000).
Fellow Ghanaians, if animals like Majestic, my parade-horse, and pets like dogs can be so loving, why do we treat one another with so much disrespect/hatred/cruelty simply because of different viewpoints?
Again, why all the corruption/greed manifesting in “galamsey” poisoning/destroying the environment and human lives when very few of us will live to the 90-years Majestic lived?
May Ghanaians learn from the majestic nature of my parade-horse Majestic, and make peace!
Let us live in peace in 2026 and beyond! God bless our homeland, Ghana.
Leadership, lead by example! Fellow Ghanaians, WAKE UP!
The wriyer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association
Nairobi, Kenya, and Council Chairman, Family Health University, Accra
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