From a rural village in the Volta Region, through Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region and eventually to the United Nations as Commander in the heat of civil war in Rwanda, an army General on Thursday launched an autobiography, telling of his journey on this earth during the last 70 years.
Titled "My Journey. . Every Step," the Army Officer, Major General Henry Kwami Anyidoho, who turns 70 next Tuesday, July 13, 2010, chronicles his life story from the time of birth, growing up in Tanyigbe in the Volta Region, his educational and military career and service in the 315 page book, with a note of a father's' reprimand that turned his life around, making him face up to every challenge squarely since then.
A graduate of the Ghana Military Academy, and one of Ghana's most distinguished military officers, the retired officer tells of his personal, married, family and professional life experiences including that of almost 41 years of service in the Ghana Armed Forces, which was also the period of post- independent. The book is to leave traces for young officers and future generation of leaders.
The autobiographer, who has already written one book, "Guns Over Kigali" did not neglect nor forget his hometown which he considers his spiritual base in his second book.
"My choice of title to make for easy understanding and ensure a creative balance of the hard lessons in life that turn us around and make us mature," the retired officer said at the launching, held at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre at Teshie, in Accra.
The launching was attended by academics, Members of Parliament, Government officials, military officers and men, the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Defence Staff, family members and friends and members of the general public.
Launching the book, Professor Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor, Chairman of the Council of State, said people must be willing to tell their stories as enlightenment to the coming generations.
He said it was rather unfortunate that the contributions of the peacekeeper is almost always forgotten, pointing out that one would go nowhere if he did not know or forgot where he came from.
According to Professor Awoonor, who is also a literary giant' it was time the Armed Forces in poor countries turned the amounts of money spent on them to develop more capacity for relevance to the lives of the people.
"It was not for nothing that the General spent his time soldiering for his commitment to his profession to improve and protect the lives of people," Professor Awoonor said.
The book moves on a philosophical tone with the lesson that every challenge overcome is a dream come true, and turns the story and culture into a teaching tool.
The Reverend Professor Gilbert Ansre, formerly of the University of Ghana and the United Bible Society, who chaired the launching, emphasized the need for accurate record keeping to properly document personal and national events.
He called on parents to exert positive influence on their children.
The first 10 copies were auctioned for a total of GHc9,900 and $1000.