Germany supports Kofi Annan Peace Centre

Accra, Sept. 5, GNA - The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany is financing the upcoming West African Police Course at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra at an estimated cost of GHC225,000.

It is in addition, spending GHC35,000 to upgrade the KAIPTC website.

These were contained in a statement issued and signed by Ms Ruth Mensah, Public Relations Officer at the Embassy in Accra. It said Germany had shown its on-going commitment to KAIPTC by contributing to the personnel budget with GHC155,000. The statement said, Germany's support in 2009 included, the rehabilitation of the Gerhard Schroeder Auditorium, estimated at about GHC80,000.

The auditorium was named after Germany's former Chancellor, under whose tenure Germany's support of KAIPTC started.

KAIPTC was established with German support since 2002 and has received regular support in the form of personnel and funding. With German assistance, the centre continues to offer courses for military and civilian personnel who are not members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The statement said the commitment to KAIPTC and other West African training centres represented a key element of German support to the strengthening of West African peacekeeping capabilities, under the G8 Africa Action Plan and the relevant EU strategy.

The German Government declared its willingness to assist KAIPTC in overcoming present financial constraints by allocating additional funds for specific measures.

"Germany plays a major role as lead donor of the KAIPTC and intends to continue doing so in the future, even during severe national budget restrictions caused by the international economic crisis," the statement said.