The Builsa Traditional Council has formally petitioned the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to name the newly established 12th Mechanised Infantry Battalion Barracks in Sandema after the late Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, a native of the area who perished in the August 6 military helicopter crash.
In a proposal dated August 13 and addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, the Council said the gesture would be a fitting tribute to a distinguished officer whose life was dedicated to service and sacrifice. The document was signed by Nab Azagsuk Azantilow II, Paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Area, on behalf of the chiefs and people of Buluk in the Upper East Region.
“The late Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala was a distinguished son of Buluk and a dedicated officer of the Ghana Air Force whose career was marked by professionalism, bravery, and unwavering loyalty to the Republic,” the Council wrote.
Squadron Leader Anala was one of eight high-ranking military and government officials who lost their lives when a Ghana Air Force helicopter crashed near Obuasi while en route to an anti-illegal mining assignment. The tragedy, which President John Dramani Mahama described as a “national heartbreak,” has triggered an outpouring of grief and tributes from across the country.
On Friday, August 15, he was buried with full military honours at the Military Cemetery in Tse Addo, Accra, alongside five of his colleagues who also died in the crash.
In its submission, the Builsa Traditional Council outlined four key reasons why the Sandema barracks should bear his name:
- Recognition of Service: To immortalise Squadron Leader Anala’s contribution to the Ghana Armed Forces and the nation.
- Inspiration for Future Generations: To motivate young officers, recruits, and students to embrace values of courage, discipline, and patriotism.
- Promotion of Local and National Pride: To deepen civil-military relations and strengthen the bond between the Armed Forces and local communities.
- Military Tradition: To align with global and national practices of honouring fallen heroes through the naming of military installations.
The Council has recommended that the facility be officially designated:
“Squadron Leader Peter Abaafemi Anala Military Barracks.”
If approved, this would be the first time a major military installation in the Upper East Region is named after a native son. The Council believes the decision would not only honour the memory of Squadron Leader Anala but also serve as a symbol of national gratitude to all men and women who have laid down their lives in service to Ghana.
“The life, service, and sacrifice of Squadron Leader Anala should serve as a permanent source of inspiration to the nation,” the proposal concluded.
