Central Command opens Goumil Bar as it marks WASSA

Ultimate FM

Mon 24th Dec, 2018 15:14

The Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces has marked this year’s West Africa Soldiers Social Activities (WASSA) with the commissioning of a Mes for Warrant Officers and Non Commissioned Senior Officers.

The Goumil Bar was named after the former Northern Sector Officer Commanding brigadier General G.N. Goumil Rtd.

The momentous event was attended by the Ashanti regional minister Simon Osei Mensa as well as corporate bodies, members of the Regional Security Council as well as service chiefs from other detachments and barracks

Addressing the soldiers, the Ashanti regional minister Simon Osei Mensa commended the central command of the military for the roles it played in critical assignments over the year under its sphere of operations.

He recounted the command’s deployment of personnel for the Anti-galamsey Operation Vanguard; Anti-lumbering Operation Halt, Anti Armed Robbery Operation Calm Life and the Nomadic Cattle Herdsmen Operation Cow Leg task forces.

Mr Osei Mensah further commended the central command for the roles it played in securing calm and order during the Foase Clashes over the relocation of the District Capital; the Asawase skirmishes where 7 innocent people were killed by the police and the Ahwiaa Akan – Zongo community clashes.

He indicated that, “I have monitored with keen interest the activities and contributions of all security agencies in the Ashanti region particularly the military and I must admit with no iota of uncertainty that you have really lived up to your billing. Through your posturing and presence people in the region can go about their daily business without any fear.

“Your effective collaboration with the police in fighting crime in the region has been positive and I urge you not to allow complacency to erode the very good work you have done,” the regional minister advised.

Speaking with Ultimate News’ Ivan Heathcote – Fumador, the Command Operations Officer of the Central Command Colonel Yehusa Salifu assured that his men are in constant training and are ever ready for any duty call to protect the regions under the command and the country at large.

“We are ready, we are prepared we are training all the time and anytime we are called upon to assist in protective activity, we are ever ready to do that at any time,” he firmly stated.

The West Africa Soldiers Social activity which dates back to the colonial era of the royal West African Frontier Force is usually a time for reflecting on a hard job done over the year; organising competitions and making merry.

It constitutes a major event on the calendar of West African forces where soldiers fraternize with their families and friends in a social atmosphere.

The public was held to a riveting weight lifting; dressing, arms stripping and weapon assembly competition among officers to demonstrate their battle readiness and swift manoeuvres of the personnel.

The medal for the weight lifting competition went to Corporal Ampedu. Last Corporal Prince Nkrumah took the medal for the dressing competition, with Corporal Oscar Ampedu winning overall best soldier in the dressing, arms stripping and assembly competition

All units under the central command cooked and displayed different kinds of delicacies with music ably provided by the Speers Band of the Central Command.