Ghanaian Officer Led Ivorian Invaders

....Major Shake-up In Army Soon
A serving Ghanaian Military officer, on a UN Mission in Cote d?Ivoire, led the group of Ivorian rebels that invaded a village in north-western Ghana on 12 March in search of arms and weapons.

As a result of this, the Minister of Defence, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor has hinted that there will be a major military shake-up in some areas, when a full report of the Armed Forces Council meeting is ready. The Armed Forces Council meeting, which Dr. Addo Kufuor is expected to hold shortly, would be chaired by Vice President Aliu Mahama and will include members of the top echelon of the Ghana armed forces.

Addo Kufuor stated today on PeaceFM's Kokrokoo Morning Show that, after his visit to the Northern Region and the subsequent briefings he received from the security services, he is convinced that the story which was first made public by the Crusading Guide, is accurate.

The minister visited Tamale and Bole on Wednesday with a team of military personnel. They verified reports that rebels from Bouna, Cote d'Ivoire arrested the Chief of Saru and some of his subjects.

The interior minister said so far the briefings given him by those in charge of security in the region and that of the chief of Bole, confirms that the rebels did carry out a raid on the village of Saru on 12th March.

Dr. Addo Kufuor who was shocked that one Capt Moro Banda, a serving Ghanaian Military officer on a UN Mission in Cote d?Ivoire led the rebel forces, said an enquiry would be conducted and a decision taken very soon.

Spokesman for Security Personnel, Major Samuel Adokor, confirmed the incident: ?Unknown military personnel from Cote d?Ivoire crossed to Saru and arrested the Sarua chief and a fisherman.?

After the briefing, the defence minister invited senior security personnel to Bole, fifty kilometres from Tamale.

Bole?s District Chief Executive, Alhaji Suleimana Adam Achanso, says the kidnapping took place on March 12th He says it was not reported to the Regional Security Council because he had reports the rebel action had been sanctioned by Accra.

The defence minister applauds Mr. Achanso?s intervention, but says he?s not pleased the incident wasn?t reported to the Regional Security Council. He asked why it was believed the soldiers who came to Ghana on March 12th were Ghanaians.

The DCE says the report they had indicated some of them were speaking Twi and Dagbani, and the Chief?s delegation confirmed the leader of the UN soldiers was Ghanaian.

Mr. Achanso says he didn?t try to identify the soldiers. ?They said it was a UN operation ordered from Accra and that was why I did not verify his identity.?

The council is expected to present a report after the emergency meeting with President Agyekum Kufuor.

....Major Shake-up In Army Soon
A serving Ghanaian Military officer, on a UN Mission in Cote d?Ivoire, led the group of Ivorian rebels that invaded a village in north-western Ghana on 12 March in search of arms and weapons.

As a result of this, the Minister of Defence, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor has hinted that there will be a major military shake-up in some areas, when a full report of the Armed Forces Council meeting is ready. The Armed Forces Council meeting, which Dr. Addo Kufuor is expected to hold shortly, would be chaired by Vice President Aliu Mahama and will include members of the top echelon of the Ghana armed forces.

Addo Kufuor stated today on PeaceFM's Kokrokoo Morning Show that, after his visit to the Northern Region and the subsequent briefings he received from the security services, he is convinced that the story which was first made public by the Crusading Guide, is accurate.

The minister visited Tamale and Bole on Wednesday with a team of military personnel. They verified reports that rebels from Bouna, Cote d'Ivoire arrested the Chief of Saru and some of his subjects.

The interior minister said so far the briefings given him by those in charge of security in the region and that of the chief of Bole, confirms that the rebels did carry out a raid on the village of Saru on 12th March.

Dr. Addo Kufuor who was shocked that one Capt Moro Banda, a serving Ghanaian Military officer on a UN Mission in Cote d?Ivoire led the rebel forces, said an enquiry would be conducted and a decision taken very soon.

Spokesman for Security Personnel, Major Samuel Adokor, confirmed the incident: ?Unknown military personnel from Cote d?Ivoire crossed to Saru and arrested the Sarua chief and a fisherman.?

After the briefing, the defence minister invited senior security personnel to Bole, fifty kilometres from Tamale.

Bole?s District Chief Executive, Alhaji Suleimana Adam Achanso, says the kidnapping took place on March 12th He says it was not reported to the Regional Security Council because he had reports the rebel action had been sanctioned by Accra.

The defence minister applauds Mr. Achanso?s intervention, but says he?s not pleased the incident wasn?t reported to the Regional Security Council. He asked why it was believed the soldiers who came to Ghana on March 12th were Ghanaians.

The DCE says the report they had indicated some of them were speaking Twi and Dagbani, and the Chief?s delegation confirmed the leader of the UN soldiers was Ghanaian.

Mr. Achanso says he didn?t try to identify the soldiers. ?They said it was a UN operation ordered from Accra and that was why I did not verify his identity.?

The council is expected to present a report after the emergency meeting with President Agyekum Kufuor.