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A Special Visitor to Ghana

Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
NEWS
September 16, 2004
Posted to the web September 16, 2004

By J. G. Amamoo

A few days ago, Ghana was honoured with a visit by no less a person than
General Michael W. Hagee, Commandant (Head) of the U.S. Marine Corps. What
makes this visit so significant for this country is that a top military officer
of the rank of general with thousands of troops under his command, in not only
the U.S. but in various countries in the world, is a very busy man, with a
heavy work schedule.
Therefore, for him to find the time, considering his numerous immense
responsibilities, to visit our small country (the size of one of the smaller
states in the U.S. e.g. Oregon) is an indication of the recognition and respect
that the U.S. has for Ghana. This is in spite of the fact that Ghana is in the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (H.I.P.C.) Initiative.
First of all, I wish to express my profound gratitude (which I am sure is
shared by other patriotic Ghanaians) to the US Ambassador here, Her Excellency
Mrs. Mary Carlin Yates, for arranging this unique visit, which must have
involved considerable planning and thought. Since her arrival in Ghana about a
year ago, she has with genuine interest done her best to improve the already
friendly relations between the USA, and Ghana, and also promote trade, commerce
and understanding between both countries.
Although naturally not privy to the contents of her dispatches and reports to
the State Department. Washington D.C., I am convinced beyond any shadow of
doubt that they have contributed enormously to consolidating the centuries-old
bonds between the USA and Ghana, making possible such a historic visit like
that of General Michael Hagee.
Here to visit some of his troops and hold discussions with our armed forces,
the general's visit also gives him a chance to observe directly and at the
personal level, some of the major problems that face Ghana, including the Armed
Forces, and the efforts being made by the Kufuor Administration to solve or
deal with them.
As in every relation, be it between individuals or groups or nations, for the
relationship to survive well and endure, it must necessarily be symbiotic and
not parasitic. As such the development of closer and deeper relations between
Ghana and the United States, such as those fostered by the visit of General
Michael W. Hagee, benefits both countries in many ways. But commonsense
suggests that one of the poorest countries in the world, by its close
association with the richest and most powerful nation in the world, the only
Super Power left in the whole globe, must benefit enormously, politically,
economically and militarily from such an association.
That is why the visit of General Hagee is so good for Ghana, apart from its
uniqueness. For it is the first time in Ghana's history that a U.S. Four-Star
General, Commandant (i.e. Head) of the U.S. Marines, the elite corps in the
U.S. Armed Forces, has visited Ghana.
Already, in the past few years, since Ghana's independence on March 6, 1957
Ghana has received immense help from the USA, especially in the fields of
Defence, Internal Security, Finance, Education, Health, the Economy and in the
development of the country's infrastructure.
Hundreds of Peace Corps Volunteers, missionaries, teachers and other dedicated
workers, have voluntarily left their beautiful homes in America, forgone all
the juicy steaks and mouth watering hamburgers, the big cars and highways to
come here to help us develop as rapidly as possible. In many cases, these
selfless Americans go into towns and villages to give their knowledge and
expertise, without a word of complaint.
This love for humanity as expressed not only vocally but in concrete action is
most remarkable and noble.
For in many cases, local professionals, people in the medical or educational
field, are very reluctant to go into the deeper villages and towns, where
conditions are inhospitable. As a former Deputy Minister of Health of this
country, I know what I am talking (or writing) about.
Ghana faces huge problems especially in the economic, social and financial
fields. They are a legacy of almost twenty years of the Rawlings rule (Dec.
31st, 1981 to Dec. 31 2000). The determined efforts by the Kufuor
Administration to grapple with and solve these difficult problems have been, to
date very successful. And any support from our development partners, whether in
the form of military, diplomatic, economic or infrastructural support should be
welcome with open arms. Thus Ghanaian intellectuals, politicians or opinion
leaders who ridicule or pooh-pooh such help cannot claim to be good patriots.
They are either mischief-makers or devoid of realism.
As the tragic events in neighbouring Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and
further away Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in surrounding states, have
amply demonstrated, all programmes for national development come to an abrupt
halt when the peace, security and stability of a nation are disrupted. Hence
the need for Ghana to continue to enjoy a long period of stability, security
and democracy, so that in a matter of two decades, or so a new generation of
Ghanaians would have been borne and reared to whom the idea of destabilizing
one's country to achieve parochial, selfish interests and ambitions becomes a
gross anathema.
Therefore, in the furtherance of democratic and peaceful development of Ghana.
any measure taken by the Kufuor Administration to consolidate and buttress our
fledging democracy should warm the hearts of all Ghanaians. Equally, such
measures should send a strong warning note to all and sundry who think that
they can put the hand of the clock of progress back and stir up violence and
trouble, as they did in the old days. Ghanaians know better now.
If in anyway the historic visit of this unique and famous four-star General of
the USA, Michael W. Hagee, 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps, does contribute
to the progress of democracy and peace in Ghana (as I trust it will do) then
the famous general would not have wasted his time in coming to Ghana.
For readers who may wish to know more about General Michael W. Hagee I gladly
quote here in full, his official biography.
General Hagee graduated with distinction from the US Naval Academy in 1968 with
a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in
Electrical Engineering from the US Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of
Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He
is a graduate of the Command and Staff College and the US Naval War College.
General Hagee's command assignments include: Commanding Officer Company A, 1st
Battalion, 9th Marines (1970), Platoon Commander, Company A and Commanding
Officer Headquarters and Service Company, First Battaion, First Marines (1970-
1971); Commanding Officer, Waikele-West Loch Guard Company (1974-1976);
Commanding Officer, Pearl Harbor Guard Company (1976-1977); Commanding Officer,
1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1988-1990); Commanding Officer, 11th Marine
Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (1992-1993); Commanding
General, 1st Marine Division (1998-1999); and Commanding General, I Marine
Expeditionary Force (2000-2002).
General Hagee's staff assignments include: Communications- Electronics Officer,
1st Marine Air Command and Control Squadron (1971); Assistant Director,
Telecommunications School (1972-1974); Training Officer, 3rd Marine Division
(1977-1978; Electrical Engineering Instructor, US Naval Academy (1978-1981),
Head, Officer Plans Section, Headquarters Marine Corps (1982-1986); Assistant
Chief of Staff, G-1, 2nd Marine Division (1987-1988); Executive Officer, 8th
Marines (1988); Director Humanities and Social Science Division/Marine Corps
Representative, US Naval Academy (1990- 1992); Liaison Officer to the US
Special Envoy to Somalia (1992-1993); Executive Assistant to the Assistant
Commandant of the Marine Corps (1993-1994) Director, Character Development
Division, United States Naval Academy (1994-1995; Senior Military Assistant to
the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Washington D.C.; Executive Assistant to the
Director of the of Central Intelligence (1995-1996); Deputy Director of
Operations, Headquarters, U.S. European Command (1996-1998); and Director
Strategic Plans and Policy, U.S. Pacific Command (1999-2000).
His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with
palm, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars,
Bronze Star with Combat "V", Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious
Service Medal with one Gold Star, Navy Achievement Medal with one Gold Star,
the Combat Action Ribbon, and the National Intelligence Distinguished Service
Medal.
Unfortunately due to time constraints the general's visit to Ghana was not a
long one. But I trust that during his short visit, he and his charming wife
would go home with pleasant memories of this country. As Mrs. Hagee was making
her first visit to Africa I hope that she left with a good impression of us.
My wife and I were honoured to be invited to a glittering buffet dinner at the
magnificent residence of the U.S. Ambassador before the general's departure. We
were both further privileged to share a table with the general and his wife. H.
E. Mary Carlin Yates, the Ambassador, and the commander of the Ghana Army and
his wife. It was a most memorable experience, which we will remember with
delight for a very long time.

   

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