Addo Kufuor inaugurates school projects

Akim Anamase (E/R) Oct. 1, GNA - The Minster of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor on Friday inaugurated a block of two classrooms for the Akim Anamase Presbyterian School in Birim South District.

The British Three Commando Brigade, Royal Marines participating in jungle warfare training in Achiase, Eastern Region and the 49 Engineer Regiments of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) constructed the 10,000 pounds sterling project. The project was in appreciation of the hospitality of the people of Akim Anamase towards the British Forces, who used the area as their base during their four-week Jungle warfare training exercise with their Ghanaian counterparts. The occasion coincided with the closing ceremony of the four-week joint military exercise by the British Forces and their Ghanaian counterparts at Akim Achiase Jungle Warfare Training School codenamed "Exercise Western Rhumba 2004".

In an address, Dr Addo Kufuor advised parents to take the education of their children seriously by sending them to school, saying: "Education is the most important investment we can make for our children's future." He said farmers, whose crops were destroyed during the training exercise, would receive adequate compensation from the Government to help to ensure good neighbourliness and cordial civil-military relation.

Dr Addo Kufuoir appealed to the people of Akim Achiase and the surrounding communities to take good care of their environment and not to destroy the forest, reminding them that without the forest the Jungle Warfare School would not be there.

The Acting British High Commissioner, Mr Robin Gwynn was full of praise for the Ghana Government and the GAF for the outstanding support they gave to the troops during the exercise. He said that had clearly shown why the GAF were held in such high esteem, particularly for their peacekeeping role in the West African Sub-Region and the world at large Mr Gwynn said in that regard, the British government was glad to support the enhancement of Ghana peacekeeping capacity and the development of a regional training facility such as the Jungle Warfare Training School.

Earlier in a welcoming address, Staff Real Admiral Jonathan Adoko, Commandant, Military Academy and Training Schools, commended the cooperation between the British and the Ghanaian troops towards the success of the exercise. Present at the ceremony were Major General Cletus B. Yachie, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant Colonel Nyarko, Commanding Officer, Jungle Warfare Training School and Major Andrew Ferguson, Commander in charge of the exercise.