Ghana Military Academy holds graduation

The Ghana Military Academy and Training School on Friday held its Regular Career Course 53 graduation ceremony in Accra, during which 82 men and women were commissioned by President John Dramani Mahama. The Regular Course is made of the Standard Military Course, which is for a three-month period while the Regular Career Course covers 12 months. President Mahama said the occasion afforded him the opportunity, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, to interact with members of the forces and that the most unique thing about this year�s graduation was the special medical intake. He said government ias working out modalities with the United Nations (UN) for its Engineering Regiment in Mali to be converted into a battalion to help in the reconstruction of the country. President Mahama said globally, Ghana is ranked Fifth on the list of UN Peacekeeping nations, which is not a mere achievement. He lauded the officers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for their impressive performance in international peacekeeping and maintaining the security and peace of the nation. He said security and stability is a major requirement for the socio-economic development of the country. He gave the assurance that government would upgrade the infrastructure of the Academy and provide adequate infrastructure for GAF. President Mahama congratulated the graduates and reminded them that their commissioning formed the genesis of their career and that they should endeavour to deliver with due diligence. He commended two Beninese graduates of the Academy for going through the course successfully. President Mahama applauded the staff of the Academy for their good work in training the officers of the GAF. Senior Under Office, Raphael Anthony Darko, was given the Chief of Army Staff Award, the Academic Cane Award and the Sword of Honour, which is awarded to the best all round officer cadet. Junior Under Office (JUO), Oppong Samuel Gyan, took the Chief of the Air Staff Award, while JUO Kwame Yelbuor had the Chief of the Naval Staff Award, JUO Boateng Yaw Amankwah won the Chief of Defence Staff Award, with JUO Adams Majeed Alhassan taking the Military Cane Award. The graduation ceremony was witnessed by Vice Admiral M. Quashie, Chief of Defence Staff, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, Inspector General of Police, Madam Cecilia Johnson, Chairperson of the Counsel of State, Service Commanders and other senior government officials.