Officers and soldiers of Ghana Company 9 (GHANCOY 9), serving under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG), received their service medals on Friday 6 March 2026 in a ceremony that also marked Ghana’s 69th Independence Anniversary in Barra, North Bank Region of The Gambia.
The occasion, held under the theme “Building Prosperity, Restoring Hope,” combined the formal presentation of the ECOMIG Medal with independence day celebrations, bringing together senior military officers, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and residents of the North Bank Region.
The ECOMIG Force Commander, Colonel Aliou Tine, used the occasion to commend GHANCOY 9 for the quality of their work within their operational area. He highlighted the contingent’s coordinated patrols and close cooperation with Gambian security services, and drew specific attention to the unit’s duties at the Barra Ferry Terminal, a key economic artery linking the north and south banks of The Gambia.
Brigadier General Stanley Mezo led the Ghana Armed Forces delegation to the event and reaffirmed Ghana’s long record of contribution to international peace support operations. He urged the medal recipients to wear their decorations with pride, describing the award as a symbol of honourable service and of the country’s continued commitment to regional stability.
The ECOWAS Resident Representative in The Gambia, Miatta Lily French, who served as special Guest of Honour, praised the contingent’s civil-military cooperation with local communities. She noted their humanitarian outreach programmes, which have included support to health facilities, educational assistance to schools, and participation in blood donation drives, as evidence of their contribution beyond their core security mandate.
GHANCOY 9 has been stationed in Barra since late 2024 and has carried out multiple civil-military cooperation operations across the North Bank Region, including a humanitarian outreach to Farafenni High School in July 2025. The contingent also donated household items and conducted an educational outreach at SOS Children’s Village in Bakoteh in December 2025.
Ghana has maintained a continuous military presence under ECOMIG since the mission’s establishment, earning consistent commendations for the professional conduct of its successive contingents in The Gambia.
