Able Seaman (AB) Class II Sarah Precious Akutor, a 23-year-old personnel of the Ghana Navy, has completed a swimming endurance exercise covering a distance of 3.1 kilometres from Busua beach to Abokwa Island in the Western Region.
She completed the exercise at a record time of one hour, one minute, and thirty seconds, making her the first female to embark on such an activity in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Dubbed: “Waves of Hope,” the exercise, was aimed at helping to raise funds to support the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to establish a facility for special needs children of service personnel at the Five Garrison Command.
It was also to empower women to embrace swimming and showcase their endurance and resilience.
AB II Akutor speaking after the exercise, at Busua in the Ahanta West Municipality, said the Service was not only about wearing a uniform, but also using one’s gift, strength, and heart to lift others.
She said: “With this understanding, I undertook a personal mission of swimming 3.1km from Busua Beach to Abokwa Island to support the CDS’s project dedicated to children with special needs, a cause that touches my heart deeply.”
She stated that as a diver, she had battled strong currents and deep waters, but none of these compared to the silent battles many Ghanaian families fought daily, while caring for children who required extra attention, patience, and love.
“Today, I swam across waves of hope from Busua Beach to Abokwa Island carrying with me the dreams of many families, for the children who cannot speak for themselves, for parents who cry in private, and for every Ghanaian who believes in compassion, unity, and shared humanity,” AB II Akutor added.
She, thus, appealed to members of the public to support her course and donate on MTN Mobile Money number: 0537303314 to help raise the funds to support CDS to build the facility for the children.
Commodore Eric Osei, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Logistics Command, congratulated AB II Akutor for her courage, determination, and resilience to storm through the tides to raise funds to support a worthy course.
He encouraged other personnel to draw inspiration from this noble gesture, saying; “The initiative serves as a reminder that service to our nation extends beyond our uniforms and operational duties, but also about standing up for the vulnerable, lifting others, and using our strength and resources to make a meaningful change in our society.”
The exercise was witnessed by family and friends of AB II Akutor, the military high command in the Two Garrison, officers and ratings, and Defence Civilian Staff, among others.
