Retired officers of the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) Intake 7 have appealed to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and the government to address mounting health and medical-care challenges affecting their members.
The appeal was made during the Diamond Jubilee luncheon of Intake 7 at the Air Force Base in Burma Camp, where Brigadier-General Joseph Kwarteng (rtd), President of the Intake, highlighted the struggles many retirees face with chronic illnesses, costly medications, and limited access to specialist care. He urged the GAF High Command and the Ministry of Defence to establish a sustainable medical welfare scheme for retired officers.
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“This call is not based on sentiments but on lived experiences. Our generation laid much of the institutional foundation of the Ghana Armed Forces. It is only fitting that in our retirement, we are accorded respect through meaningful medical care,” Brig-Gen Kwarteng stated.
The luncheon also celebrated the Intake’s distinguished history. Enrolled in 1963 and commissioned in November 1965 under the leadership of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Intake 7 played a pivotal role in several milestones, including the enlistment of the first eight female cadets into the newly formed Women’s Auxiliary Corps in 1965 and the inclusion of international cadets.
Its members have since held senior military ranks and leadership positions in both military and civilian sectors.
Vice-Admiral Livinus Bessing, Chief of Naval Staff, paid tribute to Intake 7, acknowledging their significant contributions to the development of the GAF. He announced plans to introduce a GMA ’67 Leadership Award in honour of Intake 7, highlighting that their experience and wisdom remain vital to the Armed Forces’ future.
Established on April 1, 1960, the Ghana Military Academy evolved from the Regular Officers Special Training School at Teshie, which had trained cadets since the 1950s. Over the decades, the Academy has produced thousands of officers serving in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, including on international peacekeeping missions. Intake 7 is particularly celebrated for its pioneering role in gender inclusion and international cadet training.
