The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Bismarck Onwona has paid a weeklong working visit to United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Ghana Battalion (GHANBATT) from 3-11 May, 2024.

COAS who was the leader of the GHANBATT Medal Day delegation visited the Force Commander, Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian and other mission leadership and met the Ghanaian Community in Juba before heading to GHANBATT Headquarters in Bentiu.

On arrival at the GHANBATT Headquarters, the COAS and his entourage were briefed by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Ampomah and his staff. The COAS as part of his itinerary visited the GHANBATT Company Operating Base (COB) in Leer and the GHANBATT Temporary Operating Base (TOB) in Koch.

During an all-ranks durbar, the COAS officially introduced himself to troops and updated the troops on the expansion drive, recent developmental projects within the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and security issues in Ghana. He also used the opportunity to spell out his vision which is “To maintain a cohesive, motivated and a well-rounded Army which is capable of undertaking its mission of national defense as part of the Ghana Armed Forces”.

The COAS commended troops of GHANBATT 11 for their high level of professionalism, resilience and dedication to work over the period which have gained the admiration of the UNMISS leadership. He assured troops that efforts would be made to alleviate the operational and logistics challenges in order to enable them to effectively and smoothly discharge their duties.  He disclosed that new Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) have been purchased for the mission and would soon be sent to the mission area for the smooth conduct of operations.

Troops had the opportunity to seek clarifications on a number of issues affecting them either in the mission area or back in Ghana. Maj Gen Onwona within the period was able to clear all doubts of troops and reassured them of his commitment to improve on their welfare.

Members of the Medal Day delegation include Chief Staff Officer Ghana Airforce Air Commodore Eric Yirenkyi, Director Budget Captain (GN) Anthony Sarfo, Sergeant Major of the Army, Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Ansah Yeboah.

Also present were the UNMISS Sector West Commander who doubles as the Contingent Commander (CONTICO) Brigadier General Dominic Gbedawo, the Defence Attache (DA) Ethiopia Brigadier General Richard Woanya.