Some of the senior naval officers displaying their Gorget. Inset: The Gorget.
The Ghana Navy has introduced a gorget to enable members of the other security services to easily identify senior officers of the service.
The Gorget, according to Rear Admiral Peter Kofi Faidoo, Chief of Navy Staff, would be worn by personnel with the rank of Naval Captain and above.
At a short ceremony to officially outdoor the Gorget, he said the Navy has traditions steeped in the history of sea faring.
Rear Admiral Faidoo said these traditions have often informed the norms that navies across the world adhere to, including the wearing of uniforms and accessories like gorget.
“Ghana Navy’s resistance to wearing the Gorget emanated from the adherence to these deep-rooted traditions.”
However, the Chief of Navy Staff averred that times have changed and the Ghana Navy needs to change as well in line with contemporary practice.
“Ghana Navy’s decision to wearing the Gorget will not only be in keeping with the times, but also bring us in harmony with our counterparts, the Ghana Army and the Ghana Air Force.”
The Chief of the Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa, who was at the launch, said the uniform remains one of the most visible objects that identify them as a community of servicemen and women.
He said the uniforms are meant for easy recognition.
“Some of the accessories and accoutrements help to determine the status of service personnel wearing them in order to qualify them for the appropriate courtesies and protocols.
The Chief of Defence Staff averred that in the Ghana Armed Forces, senior officers with the rank of naval captain and above do not wear Gorget.
“The Gorget would not only make it easy for all ranks, especially the Army and the Air Force to accord the right courtesies to the Senior Naval Officers, but would also raise the morale of Ghana Navy officers.”
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey
(Lindatenyah@gmail.com)