The Victory Band of Akatsi emerged winner in the grand finale of the first cadet bands music competition held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of cadetting in Ghana.

The cadet music competition themed, “Be Part of Something Beautiful”, was the brainchild of the leadership of the National Cadet Corps Band.

The grand finale, held at the Teshie Military Academy and Training Schools (MATS), was attended by 11 Senior High School Cadet bands, including those of the Kumasi Technical Institute, Prempeh College, Oti Boateng, Akwamuman, Osei Tutu, Osei Kyeretwie, Yaa Asantewaa, Bekwai Wesley, Kumasi High, and the Tepa Senior High Schools.

Commanded by Chief Instructor Major Ebenezer Doku, the bands enthralled the audience with unending flamboyant marching, while melodiously trumpeting popular songs amid the rattling of their snare drums and the metronomic beating of bass drums.

Akatsi Victory Band received the gold trophy, while the silver and bronze ones went to Prempeh, College, and the Kumasi Technical Institute, who took second and third places respectively.

Kumasi High and Osei Tutu Senior High School were adjudged fourth and fifth, respectively.

The parade was attended by Mr. Joshua Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, who congratulated the Band Secretariat for organizing such a programme within just a year of its existence.

He noted that with the about 46,000 youth from the 280 schools, the National Cadet Corps was now the largest voluntary youth group, consolidating the Ghana Army, Air Force, Navy, Police Service and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

The Regional Minister reiterated the government’s support for such programmes, acknowledging the commitment of the Cadet Corps to instill discipline in the youth, and enhancing their talents and capacities to take up leadership positions in the future.

In a speech read on his behalf, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Akoto-Bonsu, Commandant of Teshie MATS said: “Sixty years of discipline and loyalty exhibited by the Cadet Corps is worth celebrating in a grand style, not by the Cadet alone, but by the entire nation.”

He noted that the hosting of the grand finale at Teshie MATS was significant since the Teshie MATS was the bedrock of discipline and alertness of all military officers.

Also present were Lieutenant Colonel Ben Richards, Defence Advisor of the British High Commission; Commander Peter K. Dagadu, Director of the National Cadet Corps Band; Nicholas Nii Tettey-Amarteifio, Coordinator General of the National Cadet Corps, and some regional cadet coordinators.