Ghana's first female UN peacekeeper, retired Lieutenant Colonel Georgina Mensah, recalls military training challenges

At 83, Lt Col Mensah shared in an interview with Kafui Dey that she was the sole woman among approximately 50 professionals, including those from finance, education, law, and administration, who joined the Military Academy. Despite being the only woman, she did not perceive herself as different and often outperformed some men during physical exercises. She revealed that her military training commenced just months after undergoing major surgery for an ulcer in January 1975.

Despite still having a significant surgical scar, she reported for training in April, having passed the interview prior to her operation. Lt Col Mensah described the initial days of training as difficult due to her recovery, but her slim build and speed enabled her to excel in exercises like the steeplechase, often finishing among the first trainees. Her strong performance during training paved the way for her to become Ghana's first female UN peacekeeper, establishing a precedent for women in the Ghana Armed Forces.