On Thursday, January 19, 2023, Wg Cdr Andy Mensah (Rtd), in an impressive ceremony at Air Force Headquarters, Burma Camp presided over by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Frank Hanson, was honored by Ghana. Air Force for service to God and country.
His name is engraved in gold on a monument at the Air Force headquarters, Burma Camp.
Welcome
The welcome guests included former Chief Justice Her Ladyship Justice Sophia Akuffo, former CDS Air-Marshal Michael Samson-Oje, General/Marshal and senior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces, members of the Ghana Military Academy Intake 7, classmates Wg Cdr Mensah at Mfantsipim School, Mfantsipim Old Boys Association (MOBA) 1961, AVM Hanson was described by Wg Cdr Andy Mensah as an outstanding officer.
He eulogized Wg Cdr Andy Mensah, and thanked Mrs. Marian Mensah for her great support for her husband. Besides the immortal quote, Mr. Cdr Mensah was given a miniature quote to decorate his hall. AVM also quotes from the previous article I mentioned;
QUOTE
“In a recent article entitled “Give me flowers when I can smell them,” I asked Ghanaians to be admired, to know how happy they are for their contribution to local, national or international life. I added, we should not wait until they stress on “squares” as my son called grandpa’s casket, before eulogizing.I conclude the article with the following quote.
Does Ghana give our heroes the respect they deserve?
In September 2001, the Center for Zimbabwe Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA), honored the first Commander of the United Nations African Forces, General EA Erskine in Ghana by naming the Center the “Erskine General Documentation and Research Center” (GERDC) with him . died in 2021, hopefully the monument will be named after him posthumously.
However, there is an opportunity waiting to honor Ghana’s second UN Commander in Chief and former Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Seth Obeng during his lifetime.
Even if there are others, I am limiting myself to the institutions I am familiar with, the military.
As Bob Cole said, the multitudinous platitudes heaped during Thanksgiving Services do not mean anything to the deceased as they lie stiffly in the “chop-box” as the little boy called his grandfather’s coffin!
While still alive, let’s give people who deserve respect, praise and honor for their contribution to Ghana / humanity, and also to encourage the younger generation to make sacrifices, in words,
“Give me flowers while I can still smell them.”
UNQUOTE
So, who is Cdr Andy Mensah (Rtd)?
Cdr Andy Mensah
A product of Mfantsipim School (MOBA 1961), he entered the Ghana Armed Forces as an Officer Cadet in 1963. He was commissioned in 1965 in the Ghana Air Force, and won the Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah Award for the best trainee pilot in the commission. as Second Lieutenant.
In 1967, he was one of six pilots and two Ghanaian Air Traffic Controllers sent to Zaire, now DR Congo (DRC), to help stabilize the political situation.
A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) as a Maj Mensah in 1976, he headed the Flying Training School, Takoradi where Ghana Air Force pilots were trained. At that time, the Air Force used the ranks of the Army until it changed in 1978. No wonder, with their instructors Capt Awuku, Capt Mante, Capt Quaison etc, they produced former Chiefs of Air Staff (CAS) like Air Marshal Samson-Oje, AVM . Nagai, Gp Capt Forjoe and Sqn Ldr Ebo-Bartels.
Mr Cdr Mensah was one of the first Ghanaian officers to graduate from the Nigerian Armed Forces Command and Staff, Jaji-Kaduna in the early 1980s, after outstanding performance.
He honorably retired from the Ghana Armed Forces in 1983.
He will be the Director General, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for the next six years. Later, he worked as Director General, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), headquarters in Dakar, Senegal.
In all of his appointments, he excelled as a leader with an unmatched sense of humor in difficult situations! Subordinates feel very comfortable under their leadership and therefore give their best.
talk
At the 80th birthday party of Wg Cdr Andy Mensah on 1 October 2022, AVM Hanson promised to honor Wg Cdr Mensah (Rtd). In line with his words, AVM led a ceremony to honor him at the Air Force Base on January 19, 2023. In the words of Wg Cdr Andy Mensah to AVM,
“Sir, you have also been in this event, showing integrity to live by your word as an official.”
Quoting Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech that,
“A nation that does not respect its heroes will not last long,” Wg Cdr Mensah stressed the importance of being fair and firm, disciplined and speaking the truth to power without violence. Merit recognition is important for institutional development. He paid tribute to former Chief of Air Staff, Air Cdre KK Pumpuni (Rtd) whom he called “my mentor.” He also commended Her Ladyship Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, the Chairman of the Council when she was the DG, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.
It is very important, Mr. Cdr Mensah stated, he expects other Departments, Army and Navy, as I have mentioned in the previous article;
QUOTE
“Charity, they say starts at home! The Air Force has set the pace! Knowing the Navy, they are coming slowly and steadily, but surely.
I think the Army has been warm enough to give the first African UN Force Commander General Erskine a posthumous recognition, as well as the surviving UNIFIL Second Force Commander General Seth Obeng.
Once again, Ghanaians in positions of authority, do not leave recognition to institutions alone! Our heroes deserve national recognition. Thus, when the question “is Ghana worth dying to ask?” the answer can be easily given!
Remember the saying, “give me flowers while I can still smell them!”
UNQUOTE
Leadership, leadership!
Ghanaians, WAKE UP!
Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (RTD)
Former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association
Nairobi, Kenya
Chairman of the Board
University of Family Health
Accra
[email protected]
Source: Brig-Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd), Former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya
| Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not reflect Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no legal or other responsibility for the accuracy of the content. Please report inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a priority. |
Featured Videos