GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION OF GHANA MILITARY ACADEMY INTAKE VIII LAUNCHED

BY : Komla Adom

The 50th anniversary celebration of the Ghana Military Academy intake VIII (1964-2014) has been launched at a short ceremony held at the General Headquarters conference hall,Burma Camp,in Accra on October 28,2104.The occasion was also used to pay glowing tribute to the departed service men of the Intake,after which a minute' silence was observed in their memory.

Following their long dedicated and meticulous service to the country,through their work as military personnel,the Military Academy Intake VIII group have long since retired from active service.
On November 14,1964,a main group of cadets entered the Academy after having satisfied all rigorous programmed enlisted processes of the Force.

At the time,there were different categories of cadets,one group was made up of Doctors,Engineers,Physical Training Specialists,and cell soldiers,who entered for Short Service Commission (SSC),because they were already qualified in certain professions required by the Ghana Armed forces.

The second group was made up of young Secondary School graduates at the GCE O and A Levels,who were trained for a period of two years after which they were granted commission ; the Regular Career Course (RCC).

Sadly,a number of these gallant service men,have since lost their lives,while others continue to live the rest of their lives,doing some active off-service duties.
While they continue to celebrate each passing year to commemorate their entry into the Ghana Military Academy,this year's celebration is particularly important because it marks exactly 50 years of their entry into the force.

As part of activities to commemorate this landmark celebration,the president of the Intake VIII group outlined a series of activities to be carried out over the period.
President of the group,Rear Admiral (rt) Aduko,who left the service in 2006,speaking at the launch of the celebration said,there would be a group exhibition at the Ghana Military Academy,and an interaction with the current group of cadets.

He added that,they would make a presentation to the leprosarium at Ho,to help make the lives of the less fortunate friends a tad better under the circumstances.

"We would also get some of our children to feature on television,to have an interaction,to share with the world what benefits or otherwise there have been for them by virtue of being children in Barracks ",he mentioned.

"The celebration would then be crowned with a church service,following which there would be final social interaction with surviving instructors,family members and some guests at the service".
Meanwhile,the president of the intake VIII group of cadets at the Ghana Military Academy was proud to mention that,many of their members were momentarily working in high places,even after retiring from the force.

Present at the short ceremony were members from the Intake which included Vice President of the group, Major General (rt) Kwami Henry Anyodoho,Colonel (rt) Francis Akrong,Major (rt) Alex Temeng,and Lieutenant Colonel Awudu Rahman.

Others were Naval Captain (rt) Ankobeah,Major (rt) Billy Newman,and Lieutenant Colonel George Kusi Appiah.
The Ghana Military Academy was established in 1960,to train young men and women to hold commissioned ranks in the Services ;Army,Navy and Airforce.
The theme for the golden jubilee celebration is, " 50 years of excellence;still exemplifying patriotism,honor and sacrifice."