The Ghana Army Engineer Company (GHANENGCOY 7), currently serving with the United Nations Multi-Dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has celebrated Ghana’s 62nd Independence, in a colourful ceremony amidst threat of hostile actions by terrorist armed groups in the region.
The Sector West Commander, Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Stefan Anderson (Sweden), who was the Special-Guest-of-Honour, commended the Officer Commanding (OC), GHANENGCOY 7, Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt Col) Winston Luck Kwao Djiyehue and his troops for the love, nationalism and loyalty shown in upholding the tradition of their independence, on a foreign land.
He used the occasion to congratulate all personnel on parade after the flag hoisting ceremony at the Company’s Headquarters, located within the Integrated Supper Camp (ISC), in Tombouctou.
General Anderson witnessed the first half of the day’s program, where personnel competed in singing, reciting the Ghana National Pledge and Anthem, playing of cards, oware game, table tennis, draft, ludo, scrabble, and chess, among others.
The OC, on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Obed Boamah Akwa, seized the opportunity to welcome all to the Sappers Camp to celebrate with them.
Lt Col Djiyehue aroused the interests of about 30 different Contingent Military Commanders and Civilian Heads, with a documentary presentation on Ghana, with the import of projecting Ghana as a safe and profitable place to do business especially in the tourism industry, after which his guests were served with a variety of delicious Ghanaian dishes.
On the theme “Celebrating Peace and Unity”, the anniversary celebration is expected to climax with an Independence Church Parade on Sunday, 10 March 2019 at the Sappers Camp in Tombouctou, Mali.
The Second-in-Command (2IC), Major Egyah-Assuah Eshun, in an interview with this writer, reiterated that the celebration could not have been complete without the participation of the Ghanaian community in Tombouctou, Mali, mostly business men and women, who happily added enough colour to the celebration.
The MINUSMA Force Commander, Lt Gen Dennis Gyllensporre, acknowledged and extended fecilitations to all nationals of Ghana, especially the personnel with the MINUSMA Force on the occasion of its 62nd Independence.
GHANENGCOY 7 was deployed in Tombouctou, Mali, on 5 February 2019 for a one year tour of duty and the Company has an overwhelming task of providing engineering support to the MINUSMA Units in Tombouctou.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode