On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the 2 Garrison in the Western Region under the Ghana Armed Forces celebrated the International Day of Peace at the Air Force Base Takoradi in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.
In collaboration with Global Affairs Canada under the Elsie Initiative, the two-day celebration focused on the theme ‘Cultivating the Culture of Peace: GAF’s contribution.
As part of the activities on the first day, military personnel and Defence Civilian Staff from 2 Battalion of Infantry, Naval Base Sekondi, and Air Force Base Takoradi participated in a peace walk through some principal streets of Takoradi.
The walk began at the Airforce Base Takoradi and concluded at the Air Force Recruit Training School, where resource persons delivered lectures and presentations.
In her opening remarks, the Gender Advisor to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, Naval Captain Cecilia Amoo-Welsing, commended Global Affairs Canada and the Elsie Initiative for their support. She emphasized the value of peace and highlighted Ghana’s participation in peace missions over the past 64 years. She urged for peace, especially as the nation prepared for the general elections, and encouraged everyone to be ambassadors for peace.
The Senior Liaison Officer in Ghana for Global Affairs Canada, Mrs. Bertha Desmennu, expressed pleasure in being part of the commemoration of the International Day of Peace with the Ghana Armed Forces. She emphasized the importance of building a culture of peace through dialogue, shared understanding, and cooperation, and stressed the spirit of inclusiveness and respect for diversity.
Mrs. Desmennu also highlighted Canada’s commitment to promoting inclusion and respect for diversity, particularly in the context of gender equality. She recognized the active participation of diverse women in peace and security processes as critical to building more inclusive, equal, and peaceful societies.
Group Captain Theodora Agornyo, the Gender Policy Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), commended all contributors to the gender policy framework, especially the Canadian government. She provided an overview of the Ghana Armed Forces Gender policy, its framework, goals, guiding principles, and implementation strategies, encouraging all personnel to support this initiative.
The event also included a presentation by the 2 Garrison Nutritionist, Mr. Isaac Amankwa, on the critical role of breastfeeding in furthering Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the need for every child to have access to good nutrition such as breastmilk.
The event was attended by the Base Commander, Air Force Base Takoradi, Air Commodore Kwabena Kissiedu Manukure Atiemo, Canadian Defence Attache to Ghana, Lt Col Charles Palmer, and the Senior Liaison Officer (Elsie Initiative) at the Canadian High Commission in Zambia, Ms. Hazel Zulu, among others.
Story: Benjamin Bray
