Accra, Sept. 7, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor, Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, on Friday asked the military to ensure that its role of defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Constitution was upheld with total devotion and sacrifice.
"It is a matter of pride that in the Fourth Republic, the military has acquitted itself with distinction, both at home and abroad," he said.
"Ghana was adjudged the second most peaceful nation in Africa and fortieth in the world Global Peace Index. And the military can rightly claim to have contributed to this level of peace in no small measure," President Kufuor said in an address at the Graduation Parade and Commissioning of 85 Cadet Officers at the Military Academy and Training School (MATS) at Teshie in Accra.
The officer cadets who graduated after 22 months training included 13 females.
Thirty-five of the officers underwent the Regular Career Course, lasting for 84 weeks, while 50 took the 32-week Short Service Commission/Special Duties course.
Among those who attended the ceremony included former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, retired military Generals and members of the diplomatic Corps.
President Kufuor noted that the peaceful atmosphere in the country had enabled many events, including the Golden Jubilee Independence celebration, the African Union Summit and other international events to be staged successfully.
"The atmosphere has also heightened the investment appeal of the country," he added.
He advised personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces to live up to high standards of professionalism and personal conduct in order to preserve the exceptional high image and prestige of the military within the country and outside.
On the welfare of the military, President Kufuor enumerated a number of measures that had been taken to sustain morale among the forces and to enable it to play its role of protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the nation more effectively.
He said the provision of accommodation for the forces remained a high priority of government, with new buildings and renovation of quarters presently going on in all garrisons.
The President said work had also begun on the new office complex for the Ministry of Defence and the expansion and major facelift at the 37 Military Hospital was also ongoing.
President Kufuor, however, cautioned the cadets and other personnel of the military to avoid the temptation of using the uniform to bully the civilian population.
"Both the Military and the society as a whole expect you to put into practice the good leadership qualities inculcated in you at the Academy for service to the Nation.
"Whatever suspicions had existed earlier are being erased systematically. Your roles as officers and leaders within the forces must be exercised to reinforce this trend.
"I must remind you that the Ghana Armed Forces into which you are being commissioned have maintained a very healthy civilian military relationship in line with the policy of national integration and unity." He asked them to assist the High Command to stop recent attacks on civilians by their counterparts, saying they should not compromise their military responsibility.
Senior Under-Officer Isaac Boako was adjudged the best all round Officer Cadet in the regular career course and was presented with the Sword of Honour.
