Armed Forces debunk Hamidu's criticisms

The Ghana Armed Forces says the former Chief of the Defence Staff, General Joshua Hamidu's criticisms of the 64 Infantry Regiment, are contrary to the situation on the ground.

A statement signed by Lt. Col. J.H. Blood-Dzraku, Director of the Public Relations, said the regiment began as a security organization under the Ministry of the Interior in the PNDC era but has since 1992 been integrated into the Ghana Armed Forces, bringing it under the command and control structure of the regular army. "Troops in the unit participate in all local and external operations and courses as required of all personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces and subsequently come under the code of service discipline as all soldiers in the Ghana Armed Forces." Gen. Hamidu at a press conference, among other things, called for the integration of the regiment into the regular army. The Armed Forces said records at the Defence Financial Controller confirm that no unit is given preferential treatment, either in pay or allowances. "Accommodation in the Ghana Armed Forces is military type and is fairly distributed by a board on first-come-first-served basis." The statement said being the last unit to be formed, the unit does not have its own barracks. Some of the personnel are therefore temporarily accommodated in rented quarters.

It said Gen. Hamidu's criticisms of the regiment raise serious security concern and "could be a fa?ade for a hidden agenda, particularly when it can be recalled that the General's name was associated with a number of attempted coups when he was in exile during the PNDC regime