Armed Forces hold induction service for new military chiefs

Accra, June 19, GNA - The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Major General Joseph Boakye Danquah, on Sunday observed that the military institution needed to revise its outlook on issues of security to enhance its potency.

He said currently, the military's approach to security was lax and has put personnel and the entire defence system at great risk. Maj. Gen. Danquah thus entreated the GAF to use "ears and eyes" to scrutinise the environment for possible clues that can influence any situation.

"As the saying goes, security is everybody's responsibility, which we shirk at our peril", he told military and civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence, as well as guest at a non-denominational thanksgiving and induction service held for him and other military chiefs at the Air Force base in Accra.

Maj-Gen Danquah was elevated to the post last month when President John Agyekum Kufuor on May 20 made changes in the top hierarchy of the military high command.

Also elevated were Naval Commodore A.R.S. Nunoo, who is now Rear Admiral and appointed Chief of Naval Staff; Air Commodore J.O. Boateng, now Air Vice Marshall and appointed Chief of Air Staff; Brigadier General Samuel Odotei, now Major General and appointed Chief of Army Staff, and Brigadier General Francis Adu Amanfor, now Major General and appointed Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Maj. Gen. Danquah noted that the most daunting challenges confronting the GAF were inadequate finance and logistics and that the time had come for the military to generate funds internally to support some of its programmes.

He expressed the hope that the High Command would maintain its vision of making the GAF "a community of motivated, highly disciplined and competent officers, men and women, ready, able and willing to defend and support national development goals and aspirations."

He called for the constant review of the rules and regulations of the GAF, to keep it abreast with current trends in the profession. "You see, very often, we are so much scared of change that we let the good things of life pass us by. This should not happen during this tenure. We should be constantly on the move to enable us achieve the changes that will propel us forward."

The CDS said the thanksgiving service had set the tone to make it possible for him and the other newly appointed officers to lead with truth and righteousness as their guide, adding that their tenure of office would be considered strictly as service to God and the country.

The Very Reverend Colonel P. A. Brewu, Director of Religious Affairs of the GAF, who based his sermon on the theme: "Chosen Instruments by God to Accomplish His Mission", said leaders were called by God and tasked with a duty to accomplish.

He said there was a sense of predestination in everyone's life and that everyone was born with a purpose in life.

Rev. Brewu noted that if the GAF is united the nation would also be united and called on the military to eschew all forms of envy to ensure unity and commitment.