Senior officers of the Ghana Army have highlighted unity, professionalism and sustained security gains as the Army Headquarters held its 2025 West African Soldiers Social Activities (WASSA) in Accra.

The former Chief of the Army Staff, Major General (rtd) William Azure Ayamdo, who was the Guest of Honour, described the event as deeply symbolic, saying WASSA had remained an important end-of-year tradition within the Ghana Army.

“WASSA has always been part and parcel of end-of-year rituals, and I'm particularly pleased that this age-long practice has been sustained,” he said.

Reflecting on developments within the Army, Major General (rtd) Ayamdo said significant progress had been made over the years in key operational and welfare areas.

“I have observed with admiration, as a former Chief of Army Staff, the great strides Ghana Army has made over the years. There have been improvements in all areas of life, including human resource management, infrastructure, training and logistics,” he said.

He noted that the welfare of troops and their families had received greater attention, contributing to the Army’s professional posture and operational effectiveness.

“These developments have helped to enhance the professional posture and capacity of the army to deliver on the constitutional mandate of the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.

On national security, the former Army Chief said Ghana’s relative stability within a troubled sub region was not accidental but the result of sustained vigilance.

“It is important to state that the case of Ghana is not merely an incident of luck but it is as a result of the vigilance and dedicated coverage of the territorial space by our troops,” he said.

He said deployments along the country’s northern borders had played a major role in keeping Ghana safe from extremist threats.

“The deployment of troops along the northern borders of our country has largely kept the country safe from extremist attacks,” he stated.

Major General Ayamdo commended the Army’s expansion drive, citing the creation of new units, infrastructure development and the construction of forward operating bases as critical to improving troop welfare and operational reach.

“This is the best time to be a soldier in Ghana,” he said, drawing applause from the gathering.

He also praised the renewed emphasis on training, discipline and fitness, describing the reintroduction of physical fitness tests and large scale exercises as essential to operational readiness.

“We cannot succeed in our operations without the support of the civil authority and the public,” he said, urging civilians to cooperate with the Army while also advising soldiers to respect the rights of civilians.

The former Army Chief further commended Ghanaian troops for strong performances in international military competitions, including exercises in the United Kingdom and the United States, and acknowledged the support of international partners.

“As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and security becomes a collective effort, the exposure and experience our personnel gain from training in unfamiliar terrains cannot be over emphasised,” he said.

He concluded by calling for continued professionalism, discipline and accountability, while honouring fallen peacekeepers who paid the ultimate price in the service of global peace.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Staff Officer at Army Headquarters, Brigadier General Lloyd Atror, said the gathering was an opportunity for personnel to reflect on the year’s achievements, renew bonds and celebrate collective effort.

“The purpose of this gathering, as you are all aware, is to come together, interact with each other, have fun, reflect over the activities, the hard work, the commitment, the successes that we have all chalked in the year 2025,” he said.

Brigadier General Atror credited the successes recorded during the year to the leadership of the Chief of the Army Staff, Major General Lawrence Gbetanu, describing his guidance and dedication as key to ending the year successfully.

“We couldn't have done this by ourselves as staff officers at the headquarters, but it was all because of the able leadership of the Chief of the Army Staff,” he said.

He said the WASSA event was also meant to allow officers and soldiers to reconnect after months of demanding operational duties.

“Without speaking much, we are here to make merry, reconnect with each other, interact with faces that we have long seen and to make merry,” he added.