On Friday, October 2, 2026, a funeral service was held for Brig. Gen. M.I. Tetteh (Rtd) at the Garrison Methodist-Presbyterian Church, Burma Camp (GMPC).
Among the many mourners were the Military High Command, serving and retired Generals, Officers/Men of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), and members of the Defence Civilian Staff of GAF.
Particularly prominent among the mourners were officers/men (Green Berets) of the Airborne Force (formerly Parachute Battalion) Tamale, the elite Corps of tough soldiers to which Brig. Gen. Tetteh (Rtd) belonged.
The General’s schoolmates of Ghana Secondary School, Koforidua, were also there in their numbers, just as family and friends were.
Preaching the sermon was the former Director of Religious Affairs (Chaplain General) of the GAF, Rev. Colonel David Adoteye-Asare (Rtd). Eulogising the deceased for his attributes,
“Osofo,” as I call him, asked the congregation: “What legacy will you leave behind?”
Additionally, he asked: “How will you be remembered?”
Before then, who was Brig Gen MI Tetteh (Rtd)?
Born Isaac Mensah Tetteh on November 22, 1956, at Addo-Nkwanta, near Nsawam in the Eastern Region, he attended Ghana Secondary School, Koforidua, from 1970-1977 for his General Certificates of Education (GCE), Ordinary “O” Level, and Advanced “A” Level.
Having entered the Ghana Military Academy as an Officer/Cadet in 1978, now “MI Tetteh” was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in April 1980 and posted to the elite Airborne Force (ABF), formerly Parachute Battalion, Tamale.
Rising through the ranks and appointments, he served as a Military Observer in MINURSO, Western Sahara from 1995 to 1996. As a Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt Col) he was appointed the Commanding Officer (CO) of the Airborne Force in 1998, an appointment he held till 2002.
He was subsequently selected as a Directing Staff (lecturer) to teach at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Teshie, Accra, and then at the Nigerian Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji-Kaduna, Nigeria from 2002 to 2006. As a Colonel in 2011, he served as the Director of Studies at the GAFCSC.
Gen. Tetteh is a graduate of the Defence Resource Management Centre, Monterey, California, USA, a Fellow of the National Defence College, Nigeria, and an alumnus of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where he graduated with a Master of Science degree in Defence Studies.
As a General, he served as the Director- General Logistics (DG Log) and then the Director-General Personnel Administration (DG PA), after which he left for England to serve as Ghana’s Defence Attaché at Ghana’s High Commission in the United Kingdom.
Preaching
Preaching the sermon on the topic, “What legacy will you leave?” and additionally “How will you be remembered?” Rev. Col Adoteye-Asare said he could confirm all the good things written and said about Brig. Gen. MI Tetteh in the tributes.
He asserted that this was based on his personal knowledge of the deceased General.
On commissioning into the Chaplaincy Corps of the Ghana Armed Forces, Rev. Col Adoteye-Asare said the first Unit he was posted to was the Airborne Force Tamale.
One of the first officers he met in ABF was Brig. Gen. MI Tetteh.
“MI’s” imposing six-footer frame sent out initial signals of intimidation. However, underneath that rugged exterior was a calm, humane and kind person with an amazing sense of humour and smiles.
So, from the initial intimidation signals his huge frame suggested, both officers and men, superiors, contemporaries and subordinates got easily attracted to him.
Discussion
I found “Osofo’s” topic on legacy interesting because, just 24 hours earlier, a young man had described his former boss as, “the devil of devils!” Sadly, that was not my first time hearing a subordinate make such a scathing remark about his former boss.
Many years ago, a young man described his boss as a “habitual liar!” He added, in Ghanaian slang/parlance, when describing something extremely bad by saying that, “if you tell lies more than my boss, Police will catch you!”
Tribute after tribute mentioned his huge frame as initially intimidating, and described Brig. Gen. Tetteh (Rtd) as a calm gentleman who loved family and friends deeply. His compassionate nature was extended to his troops and their families, as well as all who worked under him.
In Leadership history, some leaders are remembered for what they achieved/did.
Others are remembered for what they helped others become, by unlocking a latent potential.
A major legacy Gen. Tetteh left behind and will be remembered for was producing the GAF’s first female paratroop soldiers.
Before 2000, no female had ever jumped out of an aircraft in the GAF.
In February 2000, as the Commanding Officer of the Ghana Military Academy, of the 30 officer cadets I took to the ABF in Tamale for the rigorous and dangerous parachute training, two were females.
With no precedent of a female ever having jumped, our task was not easy!
However, with the outstanding leadership prowess of the then Lt Col MI Tetteh, Commanding Officer, Airborne Force, he made history when he got then Officer/Cadets Ernestina Assan and Vera Quaye to jump out of the aircraft into history books, and qualify as paratroopers like their male colleagues.
The two ladies, now Colonels, proudly wear the parachute wings on their chests/shoulders, thanks to then Lt Col MI Tetteh and his team of able instructors in 2000.
“Ike,” as I called Brig. Gen. MI Tetteh (Rtd), epitomised leadership, calmly showing the qualities of vision, knowledge, courage, and integrity, all underpinned by Humility.
To Ghanaian leaders who greedily grab everything in sight, amassing all the wealth only to be described as devils, liars and thieves, please learn from the example of Brig. Gen. MI Tetteh (Rtd). Remember, you will not live forever! Even Methuselah died at 969 years.
Ike, you gave your all to Ghana for God and country! May your gentle soul rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord your Maker!
Leadership, lead by example/humility/integrity! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up!
The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya; Council Chairman, Family Health University, Teshie, Accra. E-mail:
