The maiden Ghana Air Force Drill & Duties and Basic Military Police Course 1/2023 graduation ceremony was held at the drill square of the Air Force Recruit Training School, Air Force Base Takoradi on Friday 19 January 2024. 

The graduands who were made up of 80 personnel comprising 42 Drill & Duties and 38 Military Police personnel, put up a spectacular drill performance which drew applause and excitement from dignitaries and guests. The Drill & Duties personnel were then decorated with drill badges by a former Master Air Warrant Officer (MAWO), Ex- Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Adetsi Simon, the current MAWO, MWO Bawa Abdulai and the Base Warrant Officer, Senior Warrant Officer Class 1 Amankwa Daniel. This was to signify that they were now qualified drill instructors of the Ghana Armed Forces.

In his speech, the Guest of Honour and Deputy Chief Staff Officer Administration, Air Commodore (Air Cdre) Frank Kobla Kudoh said the occasion was historic and joyous because it was the first time the Ghana Air Force had embarked on such a training programme for General Duties and Military Police personnel of the Ghana Air Force.

He opined that with the establishment and expansion of the schools under the Air Force Training Command coupled with the need to clear the backlog of a high number of untrained personnel, it became imperative to run such courses to get personnel trained and get them up to their respective tasks which was in line with the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff to build a smart Air Force.

Air Cdre Kudoh mentioned that, a unique feature of the graduation ceremony was the fact that it presented two sides of the same coin. The Drill and Duties course equipped students to become custodians of discipline while the Military Police basic course equipped students with skills to operate as law enforcement officers.

He added that the content of both courses had provided the trainees with the tools to face challenges head-on, to adapt and overcome and lead with integrity. He advised the graduands to extend the virtues they had achieved to their various units and work towards becoming leaders who would inspire, serve with honour and uphold the values instilled in them during the 13 weeks of training.

The Guest of Honour congratulated the graduands for a successful completion of the various courses and expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Air Force High Command, the Air Force Training Command and all other stakeholders who had made the course and graduation ceremony a success.

Special awards were given to trainees who distinguished themselves throughout the duration of the course. In the Drill and Duties Course category, Sergeant Yeboah Kwabena Prince was given the Master Air Warrant Officer’s award for best in Drill while Sergeant Osafo Yaw Samuel was given the Commander Air Force Training Command award for third best student.

The Chief of the Air Staff award for the overall best student in the Drill and Duties Course went to Sergeant Obeng Afua Sandra Konado while the second best student award went to Sergeant Antwi Bismark. Sergeant Obeng received a plaque, a customised military cane and a refrigerator while the others were given plaques and flat screen television sets each.

For the Military Police Basic Course category, Lance Corporal Oduro Asaa Rahmat was given the Master Air Warrant Officer’s award for being the third best while Lance Corporal Addy Ashia Naa Akuyea was awarded the Commander Air Force Training Command award for being second in the course.

The Chief of the Air Staff award for the overall best student in the Military Police Course went to Lance Corporal Baah Aba-Yorma Matilda. She received a plaque and a refrigerator while the others received plaques and flat screen television sets each. The awards were co-sponsored by Enterprise Life Insurance.

Some dignitaries present at the occasion were, the Chief Staff Officer, Air Force Headquarters, Air Commodore Eric Yirenkyi, Commander, Air Force Training Command, Air Commodore Mathias Awuah, Provost Marshal, Ghana Armed Forces, Colonel Zibrim Bawa Ayorrogo, Commander, Flying Group, Air Force Base Takoradi, Group Captain Selase Y Agbenyefia, Commanding Officer, 2 Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Atobrah Bondah, Commanding Officer, Ghana Military Police, Lt Col Percy Odartey Lamptey, Directors from the Air Force Headquarters, Senior Officers, Officers, Master Air Warrant Officer (MAWO), Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Bawa Abdulai, Former MAWO, MWO Adetsi Simon, Airmen, Defence Civilian Staff and the general public.