Members of the Ghana Military Academy Intake 15 Association held an Inter-Denominational Thanksgiving Religious Service under the theme “50 Years of Dedicated Service to God and Country” on Sunday 23 July 2023 at the Academy Hall of the Ghana Military Academy, Whistler barracks in Teshie.
The Guest of Honour, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Vice Admiral Seth Amoama stated that it was a great delight and distinct honour to be invited for this all-important Thanksgiving Service. He noted that it was a wonderful occasion where Officers in active service got to commune with their forebears whose works served as an inspiration to so many.
The CDS, in recalling the history of the Intake, said Intake 15 started as the Regular Officers Training Scheme (ROTS) in September/October 1970. He said that the scheme, which was the brainchild of the Chief of Defence at the time, Air Marshall Otu was designed to be modelled after Gourdonstoun School in Scotland, United Kingdom, where royals such as the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip and his son King Charles III attended.
He recounted that thirty-nine boys from schools all over Ghana who had successfully passed their GCE “O” Level exams were selected and sponsored by the Ghana Armed Forces to do a two-year sixth form course for their Advance Level at the Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) from 1970 to 1972. The Scheme was unfortunately cut short after the 1972 coup by the Ghana Army.
He said Air Marshall Otu’s grand plan was to adapt GSTS into a military school which among other things would feed the Ghana Armed Forces with disciplined future officers.
He paid a glowing tribute to the officers of Intake 15 for their tremendous leadership qualities that has produced, inspired and shaped many officers into becoming confident and competent professionals for Ghana.
The Guest Preacher, the former Director of Religious Affairs, His Eminence Rt Rev Bishop JK Otoo delivering his sermon under the theme “Let There Be Light”, said the Ghana Armed Force could not have been more appreciative of God for blessing our dear country with Intake 15 who served the colors of the Armed Forces to their best abilities both within and outside the country.
The President of Intake 15 Association, Brig Gen George Adjei (rtd) commended members of the intake for the show of love and good will towards each other for the past 50 years. He applauded his Excellency the President of the Republic Nana Addo Akufo Addo, the CDS and the Commandant GMA for the massive transformation of infrastructural development at the academy.
Gen Adjei (rtd) charged Officer Cadets currently under training at the Academy to be honest in all their dealings with their subordinates and superiors, seek the interest and welfare of their troops at all times. He also urged the cadet to be loyal and put the interest of the country first in everything they do.
DONATION
To climax events of celebrating the intake’s 50 years of dedicated service to God and country, members of Intake 15 led by its President Brig Gen GK Adjei donated an amount of fifty thousand Ghana cedis (GHC 50,000.00) to the Ghana Military Academy as seed money for the construction of an ultra-modern library. They also donated some books to the academy as a seed books for the yet to be constructed Academy Library. The books donated were authored by Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (rtd) and the former director of the Ghana Law School, Maj George Agyeman Sarpong (rtd) - both members of GMA Intake 15.
Receiving the donation, the Commandant of GMA Maj Gen Charles Awitty expressed his appreciation on behalf of the Military High Command to the members of Intake 15 for their kind gesture and assured that the seed money would be invested fittingly.
