THE CENTRAL COMMAND OF THE GHANA ARMED FORCES CALL ON THE WESTERN NORTH REGIONAL MINISTER
On Tuesday, 23rd of August 2022, a high powered delegation from the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces Base, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region led by Brigadier General Joseph Adukpo Aphour paid a day’s visit to the Western North Region, Though the delegation as part of their itinerary was to pay a courtesy call on the Western North Regional Minister, Hon. Richard Ebbah Obeng at his office in the Western North Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), Sefwi Wiawso.
Mr. Ebenezer Amoah, the Regional Coordinating Director (RCD) for the Western North Regional Council (WNRCC) and the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Louis Owusu-Agyepong for Sefwi Wiawso joined Management members to receive the delegation on behalf of the Regional Minster.
In a short welcome address, he expressed the Regional Minister’s warm felicitation and how he would have wished to be part of this historic visit but due to an equally important program in Accra, he was unable to be part of the receiving party but assured the delegation that he will communicate every message from them to him when he returns to the office.
He stated that it has been long held vision of the Hon. Minister to have the presence of the military to help augment the Security system in the region, in view of that, he has collaborated with the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Chief Executive and have identified some locations within the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality suitable for the project.
The Brigadier General, Joseph Adukpo Aphour in response said that, it has become very necessary and as a matter of urgency since the creation of the region for the High Command of the Ghana Armed Forces to establish a twenty-nine (29) Motorized Mechanized Infantry Battalion in the region looking at security threat pose by the neighboring countries. He further added that the battalion will be part of the Central Command which he presides over which according to him is made up of six region. These includes; Ashanti Region, Bono Region, Ahafo Region, Oti Region, Bono East Region and Western North Region.
Again, he said that, the battalion when constructed, will be a whole community that will have a School, Market, and Sports complex, Church, Mosque and many other social amenities befitting its status.
He further stated that, by the end of the year, the Military High Command will appoint a Battalion head and hope that, close to one hundred and fifty (150) personnel of the battalion will be deployed initially and more will be added as time goes on.
Mr. Edmund King Gyamfi, the Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture led the team to the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council, Katakyie Kwesi Bumagamah II to officially inform him about the intended project.
Katakyie warmly received the delegation and pledged his full support for the establishment of the battalion which according to him will go a long way to help enhance the peace, stability and security of the people in the Region.
Brigadier General, J. Adukpo Aphour the leader of the team, expressed his gratitude to the Traditional Authorities for the warm reception accorded his delegation and assured the gathering that the collaboration with all stakeholders will continue throughout the entire process to the construction of the battalion and beyond.
