Defence Ministry to solve forces' problems

The Ministry of Defence has expressed government’s commitment to refurbish the infrastructure of the Ghana Armed Forces and speed up efforts to reduce their accommodation deficiency.

Mr. Mark Woyongo, the Minister of Defense, said he had conferred with the President about challenges facing the military and would make available the requisite resources to surmount the problems.

Speaking during a visit to five garrisons on Thursday, Mr. Woyongo said GAF was faced with accommodation, transport, roads and water problems with most buildings needing rehabilitation.

He said the government was working to raise resources to upgrade infrastructure in all the garrisons, particularly accommodation, roads and sewage.

He also said steps were being taken to document all military lands and adequately protect them against encroachment.

“There are too many cases already in court and this is not acceptable…there is the need to streamline things properly to safeguard the lands,” he said.

He said the Ministry would work to put up fence walls and develop to safeguard lands belonging to the military.

Works are progressing steadily on ongoing projects at Beigjing Barracks, New Labadi Villas and Military Academy at Teshie, as well as at Armed Forces Central Band and Borteyman.

Maxmart Project, involving the construction of a music hall at the Armed Forces Central Band, was said to be about 98 percent complete with the only outstanding works remaining with acoustic, car park and fixing of new doors.

At Borteyman, four storey buildings comprising two-bedroom and eight flats have been completed and ready for handing over.

However, the SSNIT housing project at Teshie that started in 2007 and expected to be completed in 18 months, has stalled due to lack of funds.

Mr. Samuel Richardson, Managing Director of Richardson Company Limited, said things had become difficult and the banks are reluctant to give out loans due to undue delay in repayment.