The 155 Armoured Regiment based in Damongo in the Savannah regional capital has on Tuesday, 14th March, 2023 seen it’s first transition of command from one commanding officer to another.
The handing and taking over was marked by a colourful farewell parade and pulling-out ceremony held at the 155 Armoured regiment barracks in Damongo.
Recognising the very good job the outgoing commanding officer, Col. Aaron Osei has done, the Military High Command has promoted him to the next higher rank of a Colonel to assume a higher responsibility as a Director at the Training Department of the General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Lt. Col. Philemon Hoffman takes over from Col. Aaron Richard Osei as the new Commanding Officer of the 155 Armoured regiment military base in Damongo.
The Armoured Regiment was formed about two years ago from the scratch under Commanding Officer (CO) of then Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Richard Aaron Osei with a little over 30 soldiers.
In an address, the outgoing commanding officer, col. Aaron Richard Osei said, When he was appointed as the commanding officer for the 155 Armoured regiment, he fell in a state of trance for some few minutes because at that time, he had many things rushing through his mind and colliding with each other and seemed like some fusion was going on in his head but after his first meeting with the Chief of Army staff ( COAS ) where the deployment concept was explained to him, the enormity of the task sank in.
He further explained that, an initial recce was followed immediately after their deployment on 21st April, 2021 to the Camp and on the first day of the road travel when he felt confusion and blankness on the faces of the few officers and men who deployed with him.
He said, the journey has been a privilege and that he was highly honoured that the Chief of Army Staff gave him the opportunity to serve in that capacity and happy with the improvements that have been made since they were delayed.
He said, being the first Commanding Officer to set up the Regiment from the scratch, he had to challenge himself every day by setting up daily and weekly targets just to get to where they are today and stated that the most daunting challenge to him were the ones that were best dealt with because those challenges sank so deep into his whole being such that it brings out the best of abilities to find workable solutions to address them.
He also noted that, as the Commanding Officer for a beginning Regiment from scratch, he had get elbows and knees deep to make living in the camp a little bit more comfortable and task achievement a little easier for the unit.
He further noted that, the 155 Armoured Regiment is established, deployed, operational and growing and that, it is time for him to move on and make way for fresh energy, new ideas, new leadership to continue with the task and therefore called on the incoming Commanding Officer, Lt Col Philemon Hoffman to continue from where he ended.
He expressed gratitude to the gallant Officers and Soldiers of the 155 Armoured Regiment who stood with him since it’s establishment and reminded them to be mindful that their task demands commitment, constant steady, vigilance, determination and mental fortitude, self-sacrifice whose reward lies in the achievement of something so well worthy of their efforts.
In a key note address, the Guest of honor to the event and the commanding officer of the 15 Armoured Brigade, Brig. Gen. Ben Gah said, the 155 Armoured Regiment happens to be the youngest of the 3 Armoured Regiments but it is the first to undergo the transition of command and added that, it is noteworthy for all to note that the military thrives on time tested system of seamless transition of command at all levels.
He stated that the system or tradition is designed to ensure continuity and progress at every level of command, control and administration within every military institution with an expectation of every commander that the day he or she is given command at any level, is the same day he or she plans for handing and the taking over of command by a new person.
He said, he has closely monitored the progress of the 155 Armoured Regiment since assumed Command and have had an opportunity to visit the Regiment and realized the peculiar challenges the unit faces as a new Unit including the unique leadership challenges faced by the outgoing commander in building the Unit.
He added that, the out-going Commanding Officer has played his part and his name and contribution can never be lost in the history of the Regiment following his resilience in terms of efforts to ensure that the living conditions of Officers and Soldiers within the Camp were improved.
He commented the Chief of Army Staff for his support in dealing with accommodation challenges and for increasing the number of soldiers at the Regiment and thanked the outgoing commanding officer for building friends for the Regiment to help improve conditions in the Camp and also played his role to ensure that the Damongo community and surrounding areas felt safe and confident to go about their normal duties.
He congratulated the incoming commanding officer on his appointment and said the Army High Command has reposed in him a great level of confidence as the person suitable to continue the enviable task of Commanding Officer 155 Armoured Regiment and tasked him to build upon the foundation laid by his predecessor to a very good effect.
The event was witnessed by the General Officer Commanding Northern Command and his Staff Officers and other Commanding Officers of the Ghana Armed forces, the Savannah regional Minister, the West Gonja Municipal Chief Executive, regional commanders of the various security agencies and other regional regional Director.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
