Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia serving food at the programme
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia displayed his dancing skills when he represented President Nana Akufo-Addo during the 2017 General Headquarters’ West African Soldiers’ Social Activities – fondly called WASSA – at Burma Camp, Accra, last Wednesday.
The social activity is an annual programme which dates back to the colonial days when the British authorities used the occasion to engage with the troops.
The programme was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul; Majority Leader, Osei KyeiMensah-Bonsu and his colleague Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu; serving and retired Service Chiefs like a former Chief of Defence Staff, Brig General Nunoo Mensah and the Founder of the Salt and Light Ministries, Dr Joyce Aryee.
Service Chiefs and Heads of other security services, Generals – both serving and retired – Defence Attachès and other members of the Diplomatic Corps and members of the Armed Forces Council were also present.
It was all light-hearted fun as the soldiers lined up to receive their helpings of either banku, jollof or fried rice from the ladle of the vice president.
Dr Bawumia had earlier conveyed on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, government’s appreciation for the sacrifices the men in uniform had made and continue to make in the discharge of their duties, and pledged the provision of vehicles and other logistics to facilitate their work.
The president commended the ongoing efforts to deal with the unruly activities of nomadic herdsmen, particularly in the Agogo and Drobonso areas, where there have been reports of looting and other antisocial behaviours, and served a warning to all nation wreckers that the law would catch up with them.
“To those criminal groups, environmental degraders, and all whose activities pose security threat to our country, I wish to advise that opportunities exist in the economy for them to channel their energies into more productive and rewarding enterprises that will earn them a decent livelihood,” he admonished.
By A.R. Gomda