The Ghana Army now has a second Armoured Regiment called the 154 Armoured Regiment. This follows the upgrading of the 2 Recce Squadron stationed at Sunyani, the Bono Regional Capital into a full Regiment.
Speaking at a brief Handing and Taking over ceremony, the GOC Central Command of the Ghana Army, Brig. General Joseph Aphour said the upgrading of the erstwhile 2 Recce Squadron is crucial to the effectiveness of the Central Command of the Ghana Army as it helps shore up Ghana’s security.
The new 154 Armoured Regiment of the Ghana Army, stationed in Sunyani in the Bono Region, was originally a Recce Squadron of the 153 Armoured Regiment headquartered in Accra. It has now been upgraded from a Squadron into the Ghana Army’s second Armoured Regiment, under the name 154.
The Handing and Taking Over ceremony at the Regiment had in attendance the GOC of the Central Command of the Ghana Army, Brig. General Joseph Aphour as well as other top brass of the Ghana Army.
The event among others featured the Lowering of the Flag of the old 2 Recce Squadron and the hoisting of the flag of the new 154 Armoured Regiment.
Another high point was the handing over by the Commander of the 153 Armoured Regiment, Lt. Col. William Animia Kobby Ackah and the taking over by the Commander of the new 154 Armoured Regiment, Lt. Col. Kofi Obiri Yeboah.
There was also the symbolic baton changing and the Signing of Handover and take over notes by the two Commanders.
In his address, the Guest of Honour and GOC of the Central Command of the Ghana Army, Brig. General Joseph Aphour, said the upgrading of two Recce is part of an expansion effort of the Ghana Army aimed at positioning it to effectively undertake its constitutional mandate and security threats.
He further said the upgrading of the Second Recce Squadron is essential to the Central Command.
Explaining, he said the upgrading serves as an important enhancement of the combat capability of the Central Command. He stressed that the enduring qualities of Armour as a combat arm of decision makes it indispensable to the combat formation of the Central Command.
He said the upgrade is pertinent as Ghana continues to engage the threat of Terrorism and Insurgency along its frontiers.
Brig. General Aphour also said the new Regiment would help in Election 2020 duties while promising that steps would be taken to address its teething problems.
In an address earlier, the Commander of the 153 Armoured Regiment, Lt. Col. William Animia Ackah, noted that leading and building a new Unit will not be easy, but he has the firm belief that the new Commander Lt. Col. Kofi Obiri Yeboah is up to the task.
Story filed by John Sam-Arthur.
