A funeral service was held on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Garrison Methodist-Presbyterian Church, Burma Camp, for Brig. Gen. M.I. Tetteh (Rtd). The ceremony was attended by a large gathering of mourners, including the Military High Command, serving and retired Generals, Officers, and Men of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), as well as members of the Defence Civilian Staff of GAF. The Airborne Force (formerly Parachute Battalion) Tamale, an elite unit to which Brig. Gen. Tetteh belonged, was particularly well-represented.
Brig. Gen. Tetteh, born Isaac Mensah Tetteh on November 22, 1956, at Addo-Nkwanta, near Nsawam in the Eastern Region, had a distinguished military career. He attended Ghana Secondary School, Koforidua, from 1970-1977, and later entered the Ghana Military Academy as an Officer/Cadet in 1978. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in April 1980 and posted to the Airborne Force (ABF), formerly Parachute Battalion, Tamale. Throughout his career, he served in various capacities, including as a Military Observer in MINURSO, Western Sahara, from 1995 to 1996.
The sermon at the funeral was preached by Rev. Colonel David Adoteye-Asare (Rtd), former Director of Religious Affairs (Chaplain General) of the GAF. Rev. Col Adoteye-Asare eulogized Brig. Gen. Tetteh, describing him as a calm, humane, and kind person with an amazing sense of humour and smiles. He noted that despite his imposing six-footer frame, which initially sent out signals of intimidation, Brig. Gen. Tetteh was a gentle soul who loved family and friends deeply.
Tributes to Brig. Gen. Tetteh highlighted his compassionate nature, which extended to his troops and their families, as well as all who worked under him. His legacy includes producing the GAF's first female paratroop soldiers. In February 2000, as the Commanding Officer of the Airborne Force, he made history when he got two female officer cadets, Ernestina Assan and Vera Quaye, to jump out of an aircraft and qualify as paratroopers.
Brig. Gen. Tetteh's military career spanned several decades, during which he served in various roles, including as Commanding Officer of the Airborne Force, and as a Directing Staff (lecturer) at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Teshie, Accra. He was also a graduate of the Defence Resource Management Centre, Monterey, California, USA, and a Fellow of the National Defence College, Nigeria.
Rev. Col Adoteye-Asare's sermon, titled "What legacy will you leave?" and "How will you be remembered?", resonated with the congregation. He asked the mourners to reflect on their own legacies and how they would be remembered. The topic was particularly relevant, given the contrasting tributes and memories of Brig. Gen. Tetteh, with some describing him as a kind and compassionate leader, while others remembered him as a strict disciplinarian.
Brig. Gen. M.I. Tetteh (Rtd) was laid to rest after the funeral service, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, humility, and integrity. His contributions to the Ghana Armed Forces, particularly in the Airborne Force, will be remembered for years to come. The Ghana Armed Forces community has lost a distinguished member, and his memory will be cherished by his colleagues and friends.
Key points
- Brig. Gen. M.I. Tetteh (Rtd) was a pioneering leader who made history by producing the GAF's first female paratroop soldiers.
- The funeral service was attended by high-ranking officials, including the Military High Command and serving and retired Generals.
- Rev. Col Adoteye-Asare's sermon emphasized the importance of leaving a positive legacy and being remembered for one's good deeds.
