Military records highest intake ever as 292 officers are commissioned

The biggest number of officers in Ghanaian military history—292—were commissioned into the Ghanaian Armed Forces, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was there.

At a parade held at the Ghana Military Academy in Teshie, Accra, the commissioned officers from the 2023 Regular Career Intake 62 (223 RCC Intake 62) and the Short Service Commission and Special Duties Course 60 (SSC/SD Course 60) were presented.

In a procession consisting of 217 men and 75 women, the 98 Regular Career Corps Intake 63 young cadets handed over the baton from their older colleagues on November 17, 2023.

While the short service commission cadets finished their training in no less than six months, the standard career intake conducted training for a minimum of fifteen months.

President Akufo-Addo gave four distinguished awards to deserving personnel during the procession.

The Republic of Guinea’s Senior Cadet (S/CDT) Camara Alpha Yaya was named the finest foreign cadet.

Junior Under Officer (JUO) Kpodo George Delali, who placed third in the cumulative order of merit, was awarded the Academic Cane.

Senior Under Officer (SUO) Awotwi Jacob Vanderpuye won the Sword of Honour as the best all-around cadet of the Regular Career Course 62, while Junior Under Officer (JUO) Frimpong Esther was given the Military Cane for placing second.

During his speech during the graduation procession, President Akufo-Addo declared that the Ghana Armed Forces will be strategically expanded.

He underlined how important it is to put the military in a position to deal with the rising risks of violent extremism and terrorism in West Africa, the Sahel, and especially Burkina Faso, which is adjacent.

“In supporting this mandate, I have in recent times approved some measures for the expansion of our nation’s Armed Forces,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

The National College of Defence Studies, the Sargent Major’s Academy, and the Twelve Mechanized Battalion Units are among the authorized initiatives. Departments have also been created from directorates, such as public relations and military records.

The Ghana Armed Forces Central Band, the Armed Forces Musical School, the Armed Forces Fire Service, the School of Ordinance, and the Artillery Training School are just a few of the establishments that President Akufo-Addo emphasized, along with the growth of the Air Force Support Services Brigade Group and the Armed Forces Medical Corps.