The Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Accra last Wednesday became the setting for a solemn and historic occasion as the St John Ambulance Ghana held its investiture ceremony to honour distinguished individuals for their outstanding service to humanity.
The ceremony, steeped in tradition and symbolism, recognised 15 individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the St John Ambulance’s humanitarian mission.
The investiture formally admitted and promoted members to various grades of the Order of St John as members, officers and commanders, acknowledging their contributions to lifesaving service, community health and volunteer leadership.
The 15 distinguished individuals were admitted or promoted within the Order in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian service.
Those invested as commanders were Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa and Hilda Sakua Commey, while Dr Anthony Kwame Apedzi and Dometi Kofi Sokpor were promoted to the rank of officer, including 11 more individuals who qualified to become members of the Order.
Each recipient was recognised for service that extends beyond ordinary duty, demonstrating commitment, integrity and tangible impact on the work of St John Ambulance and the communities it serves.
A statement issued in Accra said that continuing the mission in Ghana through these activities, the St John Ambulance Ghana continued to translate the ancient Hospitaller mission into modern Ghanaian society.
It said that although Ghana was an independent nation, St John Ambulance Ghana remained part of the global Order of St John, sharing common standards, training and humanitarian values with its sister organisations worldwide.
Candidates
The statement said candidates were nominated and carefully assessed based not merely on positions held, but on the tangible impact of their work.
“For those promoted within the Order, particular attention is given to achievements since their previous admission, ensuring that advancement reflects growing leadership, responsibility and contribution,” it said.
Speakers
Speakers at the ceremony said it served as a public affirmation that compassion, volunteerism and dedication to the well-being of others remained essential values in modern society.
The awardees also said the honour recognised their past contributions while entrusting them with greater responsibility as ambassadors of the Order.
“For the organisation, it strengthens leadership and inspires both volunteers and staff to uphold the highest standards of humanitarian service.
“And for the nation, the ceremony stands as a reminder that service to humanity grounded in discipline, compassion and preparedness remains vital to the health and resilience of communities,” they stressed.
Act
St John Ambulance Ghana, established in 1937 and formalised by an Act of Parliament (Act 57 of 1959), has served the nation for nearly nine decades.
Operating under the Ministry of Health and under the auspices of the Anglican Church, the organisation had trained thousands of citizens in first aid, provided emergency medical support at national events and nurtured a strong culture of volunteerism among the youth.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh