Maj. Gens. (rtd) Henry Kwami Anyidoho and Joseph Narh Adinkra received Rwanda's National Order of Bravery (Indengabaganizi) on July 4 in recognition of their choice to remain behind and rescue lives during the 1994 Genocide.
According to a report by Rwandan newspaper The New Times, the President thanked both Ghanaian generals for their devotion and dedication and wished them a "good liberation day," which the nation commemorates to mark the end of the Genocide.
An individual or group of individuals who exhibit remarkable deeds of self-sacrifice to save the lives of others are given the National Order of Bravery by Rwanda.
President Kagame is quoted in the study as saying that a genocide does not generate heroes and that just carrying out one's duties needed extraordinary guts, as these generals did. While most failed the test, these commanders did not.
"The Ghanaian battalion saved numerous lives under extremely trying conditions, and there isn't a single member of the unit who doesn't still have the scars of those sacrifices in his heart. These commanders remained and continued to lead their men and women and did what was right, the President added, while others left or were withheld by their countries, abandoning Rwandans to their fate.
Adinkra was the former Commanding Officer of the Ghanaian battalion during the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Rwanda in 1994, while Anyidoho served as the Deputy Force Commander of the Ghanaian contingent.
They decided to keep the outnumbered and under-resourced soldiers in place to defend the thousands of people who sought safety at UN sites during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
We cannot turn our backs on Rwanda, I told myself as an African General participating in the operation at a time when the UN in New York was considering the option to wind down its mission there due to the deteriorating security situation.
He then requested and received permission from the government of Ghana to keep a reserve force to help with the best method to confront the growing security situation.
As a result, he said, "I am honoured to receive this medal on behalf of the officers and troops who stood by me to ensure that, together, we made humble contributions to ensuring that peace was maintained in Rwanda. I dedicate this medal to the heroes who paid the ultimate price and those who bore the scars of sharpened wounds in their bodies.