Black History Month – Saluting our Sisters – Officer Cadet Gbewonyo

The Defence Academy is celebrating Black History Month, and this year’s theme of ‘Saluting our Sisters.’

Close up shot of army student.

Officer Cadet (OCdt) Thelma Abena Nyansa Mawufemor Gbewonyo recently graduated as Best Overall Officer Cadet on the latest Pre-Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) course. Delivered by the Defence Academy’s Defence College of Language and Culture (DCLC) (www), the Pre-RMAS course consists of two phases run over 13 weeks. The course prepares international cadets in English language skills as well as basic military discipline and ethos before they embark on training at RMAS.

Army cadet stood for inspection during parade.

OCdt Gbewonyo, who was selected from the Ghana Military Academy to attend Sandhurst has been speaking about the influential women who have inspired her to pursue a defence career.

“Growing up I saw my mother work very hard as a soldier. When she was in training, she told herself that if her fellow female cadets could do it, so could she. This was the mindset she instilled in me.”

“Aside from my mother, I have been blessed and inspired by many other women. These include the Lady Reverend Grace-Tera Korsinah, founder of Kingdom Women Network, Dr Paulina Kuranchie, my lecturer from tertiary school, and Major General Constance Emefa Edjeani-Afenu – Ghana’s first female General. I never met her but her story which is told in the memoir ‘The Lady in Boots’ inspires me to strive in my career.”

“The common thread between these amazing women is their faith in God. They all understood the need to submit to God, even as you work hard on your own part.”

“I hope to become the best version of myself; to learn all there is to be learned and to create a network that will be beneficial to the Ghana armed forces.”

“In considering a career in defence, I would say this to other women. Have an unflinching faith in God, an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, genuine respect for others, mental robustness, constant physical training, and effective learning.”

Female officer cadet receiving a certificate for 'best overall student

OCdt Gbewonyo was ‘re-coursed’ to the Defence Academy from RMAS after initially failing the physical test due to a period of limited physical activity.

"I have now passed the test I failed initially at RMAS. Even though it is still early days in the training, that to me is an achievement worth celebrating. Being named best overall cadet by the Pre-RMAS course after this set back taught me that when we miss windows of opportunity, there can be a tendency to become depressed. But as a young leader, there is the need to learn from failure and to forge ahead with steadfastness and fortitude in order to achieve excellence. The setback was a blessing in disguise. It is still early days but that to me is an achievement worth celebrating.”

“It is important that as females we celebrate one another. Sometimes there is the temptation to get into unhealthy competition, but as sisters we need to be able to acknowledge and appreciate when our sisters are making it."

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