The General Officer Commanding (GOC) Northern Command, Brigadier General Frank Nartey Tei, as part of his ongoing tour of units under his command to acquire first-hand information, completed his operational visits to the 11 Mechanized and 12 Mechanized Battalions on Friday 23 August 2024.

During his visit, Brigadier General Tei, accompanied by the Base Commander of Air Force Base Tamale, Air Commodore Joshua Mensah-Larkai, paid a courtesy call on the Upper East Regional Minister, Honourable Hafiz Bin Salih. During the meeting, he expressed his gratitude for the minister's continued support of the 11 Mechanized Battalion. Brigadier General Tei emphasized the importance of peace during the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections and highlighted the critical role that security forces play in ensuring a peaceful electoral process.

In response, the Regional Minister acknowledged the sacrifices made by the military to maintain peace and stability in the region. He noted that security is a collaborative effort between the military and the government and commended the military's efforts in restoring relative calm to Bawku. The minister further assured the GOC and the Air Force Base Commander of his continued support for the military and other security agencies during the elections.

Following the meeting, Brigadier General Tei held a durbar with the troops of the 11 Mechanized Battalion. He commended their dedication to their operations, particularly their adherence to high standards of discipline. However, he expressed concern over the increasing number of young soldiers going absent without leave (AWOL) and urged them to remain committed to their duties.

The Base Commander assured the ground forces of the Air Force’s continued support in their operations and mentioned plans to add flight services for troops and their families to Accra as soon as air transport capabilities improve. He also reiterated the need for troops to maintain professionalism and dedication.

The GOC’s visit also included an inspection of the ongoing construction work at the 12 Mechanized Battalion barracks. He, along with the Air Force Base Commander, assessed the progress and reiterated the importance of providing adequate infrastructure to support the operational readiness of the troops.

Brigadier General Tei’s visits to these key battalions underscored his commitment to ensuring that all units under Northern Command are fully prepared to carry out their duties, particularly in the lead-up to the national elections.