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1. The origins of HQ 1 Inf Bde Gp started in the Congo in June 1961 when HQ 2 Ghana Inf Bde Gp, Luluabourg was designated HQ 1 Inf Bde Gp till August 1961 under the command of Col JA Ankrah. On repatriation from the Congo in early August 1961, the HQ was temporarily located at Rangoon Camp until 6 August when it moved to Kumasi. It was partially under-implemented at about this time when personnel from the HQ were posted to Army HQ.
2. The Bde HQ was provisionally re-formed at Burma Camp on 23 September 1961 under Brig JA Ankrah (23 September 1961 - 1 October 1962) even though others hold the view that its Commander was Brig CM Barwah. In reality, it was annexed to Army HQ in January 1962 for lack of staff and was only re-formed 01 October 1962 under Brig CM Barwah (1 October 1962 - 9 August 1965).
3. The initial Units were 1 Inf BN, Ranchi Barracks Takoradi (but later moved to Myohaung Barracks in 1963) 2 Inf BN, Arakan Barracks, Accra; and 6 Inf BN, Ranchi Barracks, Takoradi on formation in 1966; Armed Recce Regt Gondar Barracks, Burma Camp Accra and Field Engr Regt, Wajir Barracks, Teshie..
4. The Bde HQ was first located in Married Quarters- G16 in Burma Camp which it shared with the office of GSOII Intelligence at the present location of Army HQ. It moved from Burma Camp first to the Flag Staff house Annex, near the Accra Zoo and finally to its present location at the Kpeshie Ridge in 1968. The Kpeshie Ridge comples was originally projected for occupation by the Women's Auxiliary Corps (WAC) HQ.
5. As part of modernization and an increase in the capacity and responsibilities of the Armed Forces as a whole, the brigade was given a Divisional status on 29 Mar 2000. The structures have however largely remained the same except that the designation of the commander changed to General Officer Commanding (GOC). The command has the responsibility of ensuring the security of Southern Ghana stretching northwards from the Atlantic coastline and covering five out of the ten administrative regions of Ghana. These are Volta, Eastern, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions.
6. The Command has had twenty commanders so far who have variously had and continue to have positive influences on both the history of the nation and Ghana Army in particular. Prominent among these are Brig JA Ankrah, Brig Odartey-Wellington, Col IK Acheampong, Col AA Afrifa, Col REA Kotei, Brig FA Agyemfra, Col JH Smith and Maj Gen FY Mahama who happened to be the last Brigade Commander and the first GOC. The current GOC is Brig JB Danquah. Col IK Acheampong staged a bloodless coup to topple the democratically elected government of the People front Party (PFP) led by Professor KA Busia in Jan 1972 when he was in command. The HQ has had one Bridge Sergeant major and two Command Sergeant Majors. The entire list of Commanders and Sergeant Majors is attached as Annex A.
7. Current Units under command are 1 Inf BN, Michel Camp, Tema; 2 Inf BN, Myohaung Barracks, Takoradi; 5 Inf BN, Arakan Barracks, Burma Camp; 64 Infantry Regt- Gondar Barracks, 66 Arty Regt- Volta Barracks Ho, Armd Recce Regt, Gondar Barracks, Burma Camp; 48 Engr Regt, Wajir Barracks, Teshie and I field Workshop- Medo lines. It is pertinent to note that the Command has only administrative control of Armd Recce Regt, 66 Arty Regt and 48 Engr Regt. Operationally, these support arms regiments come under the direct control of Army HQ.
8. For a Motto the Command has "Kullum Shirri" Hausa version of "Ever Ready" and for a slogan it has:
Kullum Shirri - Ready, Able and Willing!
Kullum Shirri - Fight to Win!
Kullum Shirri - Shiled the Nation!.
9. The emblem is a Black Spider (head down) against a yellow background. This was adopted from the emblem of the 81 (WA) Div. "Ananse" (Gizzo) is the traditional Spider Hero of gold Coast folklore, its outstanding quality being its subtlety and agility of mind. By using its wits, it always out-manoeuvres its enemies and achieves many". Impossible feats such as capturing a live bee hive, a leopard and a python. A second versions has it that during the second World War the tarantula was one of the commonest insects in the jungle in which troops of the 81 WA division operated. Its poisonous bites helped them overcome the Japanese who could not stand the bites. The flag of the Command has RED, PINK and GREEN rectangular stripes with the traditional spider on a yellow background in the middle.
10. Having been formed in an operational theatre - OP FULL COCK - in the Democratic Republic of Congo in July 1960, the units of the command have distinguished themselves in both External and Internal Peacekeeping operations the world over under the banner of Ghana Army. Internally, the Command has variously provided units to provide relief to several communities during periods of flood and other emergency situations. Others units within the Command have also been participating in national development programmes such as road and bridge construction, anti cocoa and petrol smuggling along the nations's borders, re-afforestation and other environmental improvement programmes.
11. The vision of the current GOC for the entire command is as follows: "To maintain a highly motivated and positively responsive force, well disciplined and trained, able and willing to project a credible deterrent posture; a force jointly or singly committed to the defence of the constitution of Ghana, ever prepared to participate in national development and emergency programmes within the domestic environment and a force which remains a dependable part of the Army combat machine, well poised for distinguished service anytime anywhere."
OPERATIONS
12. The unit has participated significantly in operations both within the country and abroad. The unit has only contributed troops for internal operations, but has not formed the nucleus or headquarters of a Task Force for any internal operations. Some these operations include, Ops HALT, GONGONG, MERCURY, CITADEL COW LEG and CALM LIFE. The unit has however served severally as the main component or headquarters for numerous external operations. Some of these operations include:
a ONUC (Congo - July - October 1960). HQ at Lac Mukambu with Lt Col JA Ankrah as a Commanding Officer (CO).
b. UNEF Ghanbatt 2 (Sinai-Egypt). From August 1974 - April 1975. HQ at El-Fanara with Lt Col KK Nyame and Lt Col DA Afari as COs.
c. UNEF Ghanbatt 9. From March - October 1978 with Lt Col MM Achel as CO.
d. UNIFIL Ghanbatt 30 (Lebanon). From June- December 1988 with Lt Col DK Tettey as CO.
e.. ECOMOG Ghanbatt 3 (Liberia). From January - August 1991 HQ at Baptist Seminary with Lt Col FK Mensah.
f. UNIFIL Ghanbatt 37 (Lebanon). From March- September 1992. HQ at Marakeh with Lt Col JK Attipoe as CO.
g. ECOMOG Ghanbatt 8 (Liberia). From September 1992-June 1994. HQ at Lower Buchannan with Lt Col JK Attipoe as CO.
h. UNAMIR Ghanbatt 2 (Rwanda) From November 1994 - May 1995 HQ at Kibungo with Lt Col JK Attipoe as CO.
i. UNIFIL Ghanbatt 43 (Lebanon) From September 1995 - March 1996 HQ at Al Quaranis with Lt Col PBK Agudogo as CO.
j. UNIFIL Ghanbatt 52 (Lebanon) From April - October 2000 HQ at Al Quaranis with Lt Col TH Tawiah as CO.
BARRACKS DEPLOYMENT
13. 1Bn of Infantry in Michael Camp is located 3km NW of Ashiaman, long the Tema-Akosombo Highway. It is located 500 metres away from the Base Ammunition Depot of the Armed Forces. The barracks is well structured and sectorised for ease of management and administration. The main components of Michel Camp are: The Administration area, the Officers accommodation area, the Other Ranks (OR) accommodation area, the BAD LINES, the Market area and the Sports and games fields. In Other Ranks accommodation areas, the blocks are further divided into sub-areas namely: Company sectors for Junior Non-commission Officers (ie Corporals and below) and the Senor Non-commission Officer (ie Sergeants and Warrant Officers) quarters. Within the barracks, there are three Messes, one each for the Officers, SNCOs and JNCOs. These messes serve as the social amenity centers for the various groups for entertainment purposes.
ENTERTAINMENT
14. Major sources of entertainment in the unit are centred on games, dances and film/video shows. The unit normally draws a programme for the year to include inter company competitive sports/games which is a source of entertainment as well as training for the personnel. Periodically, and during special occasions (Christmas and Easter), all ranks and family dances are organized at the Junior Ranks Mess, because that is the largest mess. At the end of the year, the unit organize a WASSA (West African Soldiers Social Activities). WASSA involves all officers and soldiers and their families. A day/date is selected and all meet at a specified location in the unit to drink, eat and play fun games. This day is normally crowned with an all ranks dance. Important personalities and other friends to the unit are usually invited.
15. Aside these forms of entertainment, each mess is allowed to organize its own form of entertainment to include dances, film/video shows and fun games. It is the importance that the unit attaches to the entertainment of troops that it has a musical dance band called the HOT BARRELS BAND.
16. UNIT MOTTO - ONLY YOU!
UNIT SLOGAN
17. One Battalion - The Best
One Battalion - Ready and Willing
One Battalion - Sure to Deliver
LOGO/MASCOT
18. The Unit Logo and Mascot is a dragon. This emblem was adopted during the colonial days and wars as it was believed to be capable of expelling evil spirits and carries good luck. The grib on the dragon by a soldier on the unit batch indicates the strength of the Unit and its capability to destroy any enemy.
19. Attached as Annex A and B are the list of past Commanding Officers, RSMs and Magajias of the Unit. |
