The changing image of 66th Artillery Regiment

Ho, April 18, GNA - Mr Ken Devia (not his real name) was brought to the Ho Polyclinic writhing from snakebite. He could be dead any moment as the facility had no anti snakebite serum.

Then the idea came. Why should we not ask the Military Medical Post at the 66th Artillery Regiment for help? Presto, an emissary went, not far at all, arrived back with the serum, to save Mr Devia.

The Polyclinic replaced the serum when its supplies arrived. Perhaps years ago, it would not have occurred to the Nurses at the Polyclinic to dash to that Military Camp - to the bullies - for help. Today the 66th Artillery Regiment is the newest 'suburb' of Ho. Suburb? Yes. Because though it remained an enclave (military camp)with all the accoutrements including regulations for its specialized mission it has built bridges between it and the rest of Ho. And passage is fluid That is to say, relations between the soldiers and civilians is so good that, that dreaded noise of military boots against the stones of the grounds of Ho, no longer means trouble for anybody but the footsteps of just any other passer-by.

"For the past three years we have not had reports of a Soldier from the Barracks molesting anybody," Regiment Commander, Lt Colonel Emmanuel Kotia told Journalist recently at a briefing. Besides helping civilian institutions on security matters, joining the police to quell inter-ethnic unrests in the Volta Region and fighting armed robbery, that Regiment has a comprehensive corporate plan with a big room for social responsibility programmes.

On its 42 anniversary this year, the Regiment dispatched 40 soldiers to Mafi-Anfoe in the North-Tongu District to help to build a community library there. Team Leader Lt Richard Cobba-Eshun said the project would cost GHC 54,000. The library project is being funded by some units of the US Army under the aegis of Major Mathews M. Battison, Military Attach=E9 at the US Embassy in Ghana.

Ten US Sailors in the HSV 2 Swift, on a two-week visit to Ghana also joined their colleagues from Ho to work on the project, recently. A potable water project for Kpenoe, near the Barracks; blood donation; cleanup exercises at the Municipal Hospital in Ho are among activities planned to highlight the anniversary.

Already the chiefs and people of Kpenoe are rejoicing over the ability of their green uniformed neighbours to stop the illegal sand winning there. "If any recalcitrant environmental polluter with a tipper truck comes indiscriminately fetching sand. They call us and we deal with them like the good neighbours that we are;" Lt Col Kotia stated.

The biggest news is that the "suburb's" clinic would be rehabilitated 'totally and completely'. It would have more beds, sharper laboratory equipment, and bigger staff, among other things.

When that happens, the sick in Ho and environs might have difficulty choosing which facility to go when sick. There is the 37 Military Hospital in Accra serving everybody. Another is about to be opened in Ho "Our heavy guns are turned on enemies and no one else, come visit us in organized groups to know more about us. We would show you our kraal with 200 cows and 70-acre mango plantation," Lt Col Kotia said.

"And when you take leave of us, I do not have to tell you 'who won the war; you know Artillery did," he touted.

A GNA Feature by Sepenyo Dzokoto