Colonel Reginald Yemo Odoi, Acting Director General of the Institute of Global Dialogue of the Ghana Military Academy, has charged officer cadets to be courageous and self-discipline in the pursuit of their profession.

“As future commanders, your subordinates will look up to you at a time when your endurance and mental capacities have been stretched to their elastic limits,” he said.

Colonel Odoi said this when he addressed the 2013 Inter-Platoon Junior Steeplechase Competition for Regular Career Course (RCC 54) at the Ghana Military Academy (GMA).

The steeplechase course covered a distance of eight kilometers through very rough and difficult terrain with varied obstacles.

The 87 officer cadets, who took part in the steeplechase competition, were divided into three teams namely; Abyssinia Platoon, Burma Platoon and Chiringa Platoon.

Officer Cadet Esther Opoku-Mensah emerged the best female runner while Officer Cadet Gideon Ampoma emerged the second runner-up.

Officer Cadet Matthew Opoku emerged the first runner-up whiles Naval Cadet Isaac A.K Agomna emerged the best runner of the competition.

The Burma Platoon emerged the best platoon of the event whiles Abyssinia and Chiringa platoons placed second and third respectively.

Colonel Odoi said the objective of the steeplechase competition was to inculcate in the officer cadets endurance, teamwork and esprit-de-corps, under trying conditions.

He said those higher objectives were extremely important in any profession of arms such as the Ghana Armed Forces.

He said despite the bumpy and hard terrain the cadets went through, their determination and conscious personal efforts had carried them through successfully.

Colonel Odoi further commended the Burma Platoon and the individual cadets who received certificates and awards for their performance.

“I urge you to strive to maintain and improve on the level of stamina you have worked so far to attain. This is particularly important when you leave GMA, and you are on your own,” he said.