The Fifth Battalion of Infantry of the Ghana Army has held a colourful ceremony to decommission its old unit colours and consecrate new National and Regimental Colours.

The ceremony was symbolic of the Unit's resolve to preserve its honour and commence usage of the new colours when embarking on operations and for regimental and national ceremonial parades.

Brigadier General Emanuel Tetteh Akunor, Chief Staff Officer, Army Headquarters and the Reviewing Officer, commissioned and consecrated colours saying historically, during battles and operations, the colours represented the rallying point for the troops.

"It is the soul of the Unit. The loss or capture of the colours was a considerable disgrace, while the capture of the enemy's colours was an extraordinary honour," he said.

Brig-Gen. Akunor, said the colours linked the past, present and future members of the battalion and served as a source of honour, unity, strength and a symbol of authority.

"After 51 years of the re-formation of this battalion and 44 years of service of the colours, the time has come for the replacement of the colours," he said.

Brig-Gen. Akunor said the old colours of the battalion had over the years played important roles in the exploits of the Unit and mentioned some of the battle honours achieved during the period as Ashanti,1873-1874, Cameroun,1914-1916, and East Africa, 1916-1918.

"It is worthy to note that in addition to these honours, the new colours have been redesigned to include and reflect recent operational honours in Sinai, Lebanon, Liberia and Sierra Leone."

He said the new national and regimental colours should rejuvenate the Unit's resolve to remain loyal to Ghana and be duty bound to serve in the Armed Forces, "even at the peril of their lives".

Brig-Gen. Akunor, reminded men and officers of the Unit that the watchdog role which the battalion played in Accra always placed a great responsibility on the Unit.

He commended the unit for their high sense of professionalism and selfless devotion to duty and said there was much more the Unit must do in future.

Brig-Gen. Akunor said the emerging security trends in the society in recent times, placed immense challenges on security personnel adding that "these challenges must however, be approached with a lot of tact and decisiveness, to effectively create that enabling environment for sound economic growth, social and political stability, as well as uninterrupted national development."

He paid tribute to members of the Unit who had "paid the ultimate price with their lives in the course of duty. We honour their memory and pray that their families left behind may find strength and fortitude to continue with their lives".

Brig-Gen. Akunor cautioned all ranks to avoid unprofessional attitudes and strive to project the high professional profile of the Ghana Army.

"Our efforts must be directed at ensuring peace, security and progress," he added.

A parade of five officers 75 men and women, under the command of Lt-Col. Lawrence Gbetanu was mounted in honour of the occasion.

The Unit was formed at Kamina Barracks, Tamale, on January 30, 1961, after it was disbanded at the end of the Second World War.

In 1963, the Unit was moved from Kamina Barracks to the Atakan Barracks in Accra and in 1968, the Unit was presented with the national and regimental colours by Lt-Gen. J.A. Ankrah, the then Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.**