Ghana Armed Forces holds open-day

Accra, March 8, GNA- The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Monday held its fourth, in a series of "open-day" activities that aims to showcase the armed forces and to enhance civil-military relations.

The Day is designed to create a platform to help civilians understand military life, how it is resourced and the challenges facing the individual soldier as well as the Service.

As early as 0700 hours, hundreds of people from all walks of life, particularly school children, had thronged to the El Wak Stadium, close to the Kotoka International Airport to witness activities to mark the day.

The day started at the El Wak Stadium with dog display by the Military police, where the crowd witnessed how canine species were used in detecting and arresting criminals.

From there, the crowed were moved in buses to various military facilities at Burma Camp and other locations in Accra to gather first hand information as to how the military operates.

At the Airforce Base, the civilians familiarized themselves with the types of aircrafts at the base but could not be treated to air rides because of the poor weather conditions that were hampering visibility for the pilots.

The Armour Reconnaissance Regiment of the GAF also took some of the people on rides in their armoured fighting vehicles, after a series of lectures on some of the armaments used by the regiment.

The civilians took horse riding lessons as well as watched the equestrian display mounted by the Three Mounted Squadron, which is the home of military equestrian activities.

There was also weapons display by the Five Infantry Battalion of Infantry and a lecture on the some of the weapons used by the GAF by instructors at the Military Academy and Training Schools of the GAF. Other activities the military lined up for the day included a sea trip at the Tema Naval base, physical training display, amusement shoots at the Teshie shooting range, a photo exhibition, eye and blood pressure test at the 37 Military Hospital and bridge construction by the 48 Engineer Regiment of the GAF.

Patronage to this year's event surpasses previous ones. A military Officer the GNA spoke to said the patronage was largely due to the continuous and enhanced civil/military relations pursued by the GAF.

He said those in civil society have shed the negative impression about the armed forces since the day was instituted. The day was observed in all the military garrisons countrywide.