22/04/2026
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HOLY SPIRIT COMMANDERY #431, KNIGHT OF THE YEAR 2025: BRIGADIER-GENERAL BEKOE PALMER-BUCKLE HONOURED FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE.
In a celebrated recognition of extraordinary dedication, the Holy Spirit Commandery No. 431 of the Knights of St. John International, Adabraka, Accra, has named Brigadier-General Bekoe Palmer-Buckle as the recipient of the Commandery’s Knight of the Year Award for 2025.
Following a unanimous recommendation by the Commandery's Board of Trustees, the honouree was described by his Brothers as a quiet giant of generosity, a mentor of men, and a living testament to the core values of the Noble Order: Faith, Hope, and Charity. In a nomination letter dated 13th December 2025, Lt. Aloysius Sallah Jr., Fifth Trustee of the Commandery, submitted the sole nomination received for the award, that of Brigadier-General Bekoe Palmer-Buckle. What made General Bekoe’s nomination remarkable was not merely the list of accomplishments, but the spirit behind them. For instance, in voluntary drives for support, the General is “willing to donate and contribute” without hesitation or fanfare.
Among the specific acts of charity cited in the nomination were support for Commandery socialization, especially in the area of the Easter Communion Breakfast, support for Cadets’ activities, a gesture of encouragement to the next generation of leaders, and assistance in honouring fallen Brothers with dignity. These gestures reflect the call to charity required of Knights.
Before any Knight could be considered for the award, the Committee established clear prerequisites, all of which Brigadier-General Palmer-Buckle satisfied in full. The selection criteria developed by the Knight of the Year Award Committee required the exemplification of all three core values, Faith, Hope, and Charity alongside demonstrated commitment to the Noble Order, spiritual engagement, and social fraternity. The Trustees, in their endorsement, stated unequivocally: “We have no doubt that the candidate has met the criteria for selection for the award.”
The nomination was the sole submission received by the Commandery, a fact that the Commandery unanimously resolved to honour by recognising Brigadier-General Palmer-Buckle for his good deeds and exploits over the years. The sole nomination was also interpreted in another light, that when a figure of Bekoe Palmer-Buckle's stature is rightly honoured, other worthy Knights step aside, not from reluctance, but from the recognition that some honours find their natural home.
For the Commandery, the award affirms that quiet faithfulness does not go unnoticed. For younger Knights, it sets a standard to aspire towards not of wealth or rank, but of character and consistency. For Brigadier-General Bekoe Palmer-Buckle himself, who reportedly had no knowledge of his nomination, the award comes as a surprise rather than an expectation. And perhaps that is the truest mark of a Knight of the Year: he serves not for recognition, but because service is who he is.
The formal approval of the nomination was widely endorsed by members of the Holy Spirit Commandery No. 431, Adabraka. Given the unanimous recommendation of the Trustees and the compelling case laid out in both the Committee's report and the nominee’s profile, the nomination was approved without hesitation.
The award seeks to honour dedicated Brothers who distinguish themselves in service to the Commandery and the Order at large. Any Brother who fits this category should have attended a number of meetings within the year of nomination, discharged all financial obligations, and played roles that cut across the tenets of Loyalty, Unity, and Charity. That Brigadier-General Palmer-Buckle stands as the recipient for 2025 carries a strong symbolic dimension. This ceremonial honour was conferred at the April 2026 Business Meeting, where Brigadier-General Bekoe Palmer-Buckle was formally recognised and presented with a plaque as Knight of the Year 2025 in pomp and pageantry. Until then, he remains what he has always been: a Knight serving quietly, giving generously, and mentoring patiently, asking nothing in return.
Beyond his generosity, Brigadier-General Bekoe Palmer-Buckle has served in various capacities within the Local Commandery and the Noble Order at large, and continues to mentor many young Brothers. His consistent presence has directly impacted the lives of many younger Brothers in the Noble Order. He served the Local Commandery as President for two (2) tenures, as President of the Accra East Grand Commandery for two (2) tenures, and as Grand Master of the Archbishop William Thomas Porter Chapter of Chevaliers, among others.
Courtesy | Captain Nana Osei Yeboah
President, Holy Spirit Commandery #431, Adabraka – Accra
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