Two officers and 45 men from the Ghana Airforce have taken over guard duties at the seat of government, the Jubilee House.
Dubbed: “The change of guards ceremony”, the event, which lasted for about 30 minutes, saw the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo observe the parade.
The impressive display of military artistry saw the Airforce take over guard duties from the Navy who has been carrying out the guard duties for the last three months.
The change of guard ceremony, which was instituted on May 5, 2013, is the process where new guards exchange duty with the old guards at the Jubilee House, similar to the Queen’s Guard at the Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom.
It is an old tradition inherited from the British during the colonial era, and it is purely ceremonial as the guards provide sentries during the day and night and also patrol the premises.
The practice of change of guard, which is conducted on quarterly basis at the seat of government, is also a daily act in every unit of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The significance of the change of guards is to ensure alertness and readiness of the soldiers at all times, to assess the strength of the soldiers for duty as well as strengthen unity and esprit de corps among the troops.
President Akufo- Addo observed the ceremony with the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei Opare and service commanders.
The event ensures maximum security, constant fortification and the alertness and readiness of the military guards at their duty point.
Also, Escort contingent, Corps of Drums and the National/Regimental Colours form part of the ceremony under the command of a Captain (Army) or its equivalent from the other services.
School children, students and teachers from the Oxford International School, Tiny Gem School, Eno Kwakyewaa International School, Madina Senior High School, Sap’s School, and the Accra High School witnessed the ceremony.
Ghana | Atinkaoanline.com