From Inusa Musah
Lieutenant Colonel Fred Ntiri, Commanding Officer (CO) of the First Battalion of Infantry (1BN) of the First Garrison, Michel Camp, has handed the Flag of Command to a new CO, Lieutenant Colonel Albert Ogaja.
The brief colourful ceremony, held at Michel Camp, saw in attendance the Minister for Youth and Sports, Alhaji Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, and Brigadier General Sampson Adeti, General Officer Commanding of the Southern Command of the Ghana Army, who was the Guest of Honour.
Lieutenant Colonel Fred Ntiri changed command after his three-and-half years service as an industrious, rigid, but listening CO of 1BN. Aside ensuring that he left behind enviable personnel fit and ready for any national cause, the outgone CO bequeathed the infantry unit an ultra-modern gym, sports complex, and dental clinic.
After the Second Garrison, Kumasi, Fourth Garrison, Takoradi, and Sixth Garrison, Tamale, the 1BN shall go into the memoirs of the Ghana Army as the fourth garrison that can also boast of having their own dental clinic – an ineffaceable feat of Lieutenant Colonel Fred Ntiri. Hitherto, personnel of the infantry unit sought dental health care at the 37 Military Hospital, Accra.
Funds for the three edifices were self-help initiative contributions from the unit’s troops on UN mission in Congo. Another edifice under construction during the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Ntiri is a six-unit accommodation for personnel of the infantry. Expressing readiness to fit into his predecessor’s shoes, Lieutenant Colonel Albert Ogaja, who started his duty at the 1BN 16 years ago, promised to continue the success story of Lieutenant Colonel Ntiri.
He did not mince announcing his rigid style of leadership to the personnel, even though he promised to go along with them in the spirit of unity and professionalism to push the unit to greater heights and feats. In a good testimonial of him, Brigadier General Sampson Adeti, General Officer Commanding the Southern Command, said Lieutenant Colonel Fred Ntiri discharged his operational responsibilities creditably, and was excellent in his administration.
Besides, the 1BN, under Lieutenant Colonel Ntiri, has chalked enviable successes because of the outgone CO’s judicious use of resources. “Fred has discharged his duties very well, and the Military High Command is indeed proud of you,” Brigadier General Adeti said proudly.
Turning to Lieutenant Colonel Ogaja, the General Officer Commanding of the Southern Command said: “The Military High Command knows your enormous capabilities, and so the Command knows you will do more.”
He charged Lieutenant Colonel Ogaja to exercise the tenets of firmness and fairness in his new office.