selection board. While I was in Sixth Form awaiting the results, a telegram arrived inmy village inviting me to join the Academy. It was subsequently forwarded tome in Takoradi. When I received the telegram, I went straight tomy housemaster, Mr. HansenNortey, who tookme to see the headmaster, Mr. AduAmpomah. The headmaster was reluctant to let me leave. I was one of the better students and was doing particularly well in science, especially chemistry, so he questioned why I wanted to give up Sixth Form. It was not an easy decision. I was doing well at GSTS and could have stayed to complete Sixth Form, but deep down, I knew I wanted to take this opportunity. Joining the Armed Forces would give me the chance to serve my country and begin a completely different journey. I did not knowwhere that journey would take me, but I was ready to take the chance. Eventually, the headmaster acceptedmy decision and gave me his blessing to leave. In 1961, I left Sixth Formwithout completing it and entered the GhanaMilitary Academy at Teshie in Accra. It was a decision that would completely change the direction of my life. When the Academy later called for those interested in joining the Navy, I immediately saw an opportunity to pursue my interest in engineering. The Navy offered several career paths, including engineering, supply, finance and electronics. Engineering appealed tome most. I sat the required examination and attended an interview. Fortunately, I passed both and was selected to join the Navy. Within four months, twelve of us were on our way to the United Kingdom for further training. From 1962 to 1965, I trained at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, where I receivedmy formal training as a naval officer. The programme lasted about three years and included approximately a year of practical training at sea. I was commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces with notional effect from30 September 1962. By the end of my training at Dartmouth, the young boy fromVakpo who had once dreamed of becoming an engineer was now a commissioned naval officer, embarking on a career of service to his country. With the President of the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, 1973. The Birthday Journal 17
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