A special handing and taking over ceremony has been held at the Air Force Base, Accra to hand over the base from Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Frederick Asare Bekoe to Group Captain (GC) JL Mensah-Lankai, the new Acting Base Commander.

The colourful farewell parade, which saw some high-ranking members of the Air Force in attendance, also witnessed a pulling out ceremony.

AVM Bekoe, who took over the Accra Air Force Base on January 1, 2016, in his address, thanked all those who worked under him, including officers, airmen/airwomen and civilian employees.

He said over the period, the Base performed a VIP and government delegation flights, modernized the pilots’ crew room, reconstructed the battery section and renovated the amenity centre, among many other developments under his command.

“All these achievements happened within three years of my command, I will say it’s been hectic and challenging but with my able and supportive staff; and God on our side, we were able to surmount all odds,” he said.

AVM Bekoe congratulated his successor, GC Mensah Lankai and urged him to continue with his good work.

“I must confess that this Base has seen tremendous change under my tutelage and I can only urge you to continue to maintain that progressive trajectory. I want to assure you that with the combined team on the Base you will enjoy the cooperation of these gallant airmen. It will be advised, however, that you consult anytime you are challenged as two heads are always better than one. I would also humbly request the Chief of Air Staff to continue to extend helping hands to the Base at such challenging times.”

GC Mensah-Lankai thanked the Military High Command for the confidence reposed in him saying he would strive in every way to be worthy of that confidence by fulfilling his duties to the best of his abilities.

He acknowledged the role of his predecessors especially AVM Bekoe adding that he would work hard to build on their successes.

“I, therefore, wish to assure you that the Base would continue to flourish knowing the foundation you (AVM Bekoe) and our predecessors have laid over the years.”

“Let me assure all of a transparent, accountable and accessible leadership guided by the motto of the Base, ‘Combined Efforts Ensures Success,” he said.

GC Mensah-Lankai was the Commander of the Ghana Aviation Unit in La Cote d’Ivoire.