Army officers urged to win trust of subordinates
Major-General Joseph Narh Adinkrah, Chief of Army Staff, on Monday, reminded Army Officers that their comportment, professional skills and good management decisions were crucial in sustaining the trust of their men.
He was addressing the opening ceremony of a four-day 2011 Army Young Officers’ Convention, being hosted by the 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho.
Major-General Adinkrah observed that “the backbone of character is integrity,” and asserted that, the “challenge of leadership today is credibility”.
He said that credibility could only be gained by “sending out the right messages to subordinates through our own actions”.
The theme of the convention is “Improving Soldier Management Techniques of the Young Officer in the Ghana Army”.
Major-General Adinkrah said today’s soldier in Ghana “reveals a very perceptive intellect, laced with the level of inquisitiveness that required proper handling”.
He said besides the varied professional challenges faced by the soldier, was the “more acute but unfortunate social malaise-the love for material acquisitions”.
Major-General Adinkrah said the setting of the soldier today underscored the relevance of the theme, sharpening the management skills of the young officer.
“Indeed, soldiering these days is more than knowing all the latest tactics. Commanders are always being called upon to respond to complex situations that continue to task their management skills to the utmost.
“The earlier you grasp the ground rules for effective leadership, the better it would be for your command,” the Army Commander stated.
He said as officers, it was crucial that “your general conduct should exude in your men confidence in themselves and their colleagues, pride in their Unit, cohesion and esprit-de-corps that should be the envy of their colleagues”.
He observed that leadership continued to tickle the minds of researchers and sociologists.
Colonel Cyril Necku, (rtd), Deputy Volta Regional Minister and a past Commanding Officer (CO) of the 66 Artillery Regiment said government was actively tackling the accommodation and logistic problems of the military.
He said in return the nation expected the military to reflect abundant “man management skills” that would sustain a disciplined and efficient force.
The 28 officers, drawn from garrisons across the country attending the convention would be taken through various topics of management.
Source: GNA