Accra, Sept.5, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday said problems facing government in all the sectors were manifold, nevertheless, government was determined that with the co-operation of Ghanaians, it would address them in a carefully planned and prioritised manner.
"It is no secret that the problems facing the government in all its sectors are manifold, nevertheless, government is determined that with the co-operation of Ghanaians, it will address all in a carefully planned and prioritised manner", he said.
President Kufuor was reviewing the 2003 Graduation Parade for 43 officer cadets of the Regular Career Course 43 and Short Service Commission and Special Duties Course 42 of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at the Military Academy and Training School (MATS) at Teshie, Accra. President Kufuor, who is also the Commander-In-Chief of the GAF, conferred the Presidential Commission of the Cadets into the GAF. He said the government has put its shoulders to the wheel to entrench constitutional multi-party democratic system of governance based on the rule of law and respect for human rights and the success of this mandate would depend on the level of commitment of all the citizenry including Armed Forces personnel.
President Kufuor said the obnoxious effects of previous abrogated constitutional democratic rule were self-evident and the resulting deep cynicism and loss of confidence in the body politic had largely caused the malfunctioning of all sectors of the society. "Elsewhere in the Sub-Region, these usurpations have directly contributed to civil wars, collapsed nations and inhuman problems like pervasive destitution, child soldiers and refugees", he said.
President Kufuor reminded the Cadets that having chosen to serve the national colours as Officers, they have not only an enviable legacy left by their predecessors to protect but also to understand and share in the vision of the government and people for development, peace and national reconciliation.
He told the soldiers: "You have to work honestly and loyally to promote and protect these values. This is in addition to your original duty to uphold and defend the Constitution, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation."
President Kufuor said the need for high level professionalism for effective discharge of the Forces' national constitutional mandate was imperative and its urgency had become even clearer when viewed in relation to the current security demands on the regional and global scene.
He said the entire West African Sub-Region was justifiably, looking up to Ghana for both political and security direction to bring peace to Liberia and restore stability in the Sub-Region, therefore, the GAF must be fully conscious of that added responsibility and should competently rise to the challenge.
President Kufuor said the successful discharge of the dual national and international functions would depend on a number of factors; first the level and quality of technical and professional competence of the Forces, which should conform to international best standards.
He said the GAF must share and promote the national vision of constitutional democracy, good governance, development, peace and reconciliation and thirdly, the Forces personnel must abhor and avoid any distraction and entanglements that compromised the integrity and raison d'etre of the military establishment.
"The cost of such damnable adventurism to the Sub-Region over the past three decades, in human and social development and the economic losses is untold and is proving intractable to recover", he said.
President Kufuor said to enable the Military High Command in Ghana to perform these duties the government within the constraints of this year's national budget, the Ministry of Defence was allocated 439.2 Billion cedis to carry out its programmes and activities.
He said in addition, measures had been put in place to develop and improve upon the human resource and the infrastructure base of the GAF. President Kufuor said while improving the academic and professional competencies of the Forces, the state had not been oblivious of their welfare, therefore, the first phase of the Armed Forces Barracks Rehabilitation programme comprising about 10 projects had been completed.
He said provision had also been made in this year's budget for the second phase of the rehabilitation project to take off and the continuation of the Burma Camp Telephone Exchange project, which began last year.
Rear Admiral Jonathan Adoko, Commandant of MATS in a message to the Cadets said after their graduation, they would need to grasp the intricacies of complex national and international issues as leaders. He said they would in addition be saddled with the enormous burden of making decisions which might literally be a matter of life and death for those they lead, therefore, in the consideration of such complex decision-making, they should let their sense of duty, integrity, discipline and selflessness serve as a guide in all their dealings with the men they lead.
President Kufuor later presented awards to five Officer Cadets, who excelled during the course.
They were: Senior Under Officer Peter Abban, 28, who received the Sword of Honour for exemplary leadership qualities while Junior Under Officer Eric Annor Tommey, 21, received the Military Cane for initiative, sharpness and decisiveness.
The rest were Junior Under Officer Augustine Awuku-Annie, 26, the Academic prize for academic excellence; Cadet Sergeant Anthony Ninlaara, the Commandant's prize for academic excellence and Midshipman Joseph Tenzii had the Sextant Award for excellence in sea navigational skills.
Accra, Sept.5, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday said problems facing government in all the sectors were manifold, nevertheless, government was determined that with the co-operation of Ghanaians, it would address them in a carefully planned and prioritised manner.
"It is no secret that the problems facing the government in all its sectors are manifold, nevertheless, government is determined that with the co-operation of Ghanaians, it will address all in a carefully planned and prioritised manner", he said.
President Kufuor was reviewing the 2003 Graduation Parade for 43 officer cadets of the Regular Career Course 43 and Short Service Commission and Special Duties Course 42 of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at the Military Academy and Training School (MATS) at Teshie, Accra. President Kufuor, who is also the Commander-In-Chief of the GAF, conferred the Presidential Commission of the Cadets into the GAF. He said the government has put its shoulders to the wheel to entrench constitutional multi-party democratic system of governance based on the rule of law and respect for human rights and the success of this mandate would depend on the level of commitment of all the citizenry including Armed Forces personnel.
President Kufuor said the obnoxious effects of previous abrogated constitutional democratic rule were self-evident and the resulting deep cynicism and loss of confidence in the body politic had largely caused the malfunctioning of all sectors of the society. "Elsewhere in the Sub-Region, these usurpations have directly contributed to civil wars, collapsed nations and inhuman problems like pervasive destitution, child soldiers and refugees", he said.
President Kufuor reminded the Cadets that having chosen to serve the national colours as Officers, they have not only an enviable legacy left by their predecessors to protect but also to understand and share in the vision of the government and people for development, peace and national reconciliation.
He told the soldiers: "You have to work honestly and loyally to promote and protect these values. This is in addition to your original duty to uphold and defend the Constitution, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation."
President Kufuor said the need for high level professionalism for effective discharge of the Forces' national constitutional mandate was imperative and its urgency had become even clearer when viewed in relation to the current security demands on the regional and global scene.
He said the entire West African Sub-Region was justifiably, looking up to Ghana for both political and security direction to bring peace to Liberia and restore stability in the Sub-Region, therefore, the GAF must be fully conscious of that added responsibility and should competently rise to the challenge.
President Kufuor said the successful discharge of the dual national and international functions would depend on a number of factors; first the level and quality of technical and professional competence of the Forces, which should conform to international best standards.
He said the GAF must share and promote the national vision of constitutional democracy, good governance, development, peace and reconciliation and thirdly, the Forces personnel must abhor and avoid any distraction and entanglements that compromised the integrity and raison d'etre of the military establishment.
"The cost of such damnable adventurism to the Sub-Region over the past three decades, in human and social development and the economic losses is untold and is proving intractable to recover", he said.
President Kufuor said to enable the Military High Command in Ghana to perform these duties the government within the constraints of this year's national budget, the Ministry of Defence was allocated 439.2 Billion cedis to carry out its programmes and activities.
He said in addition, measures had been put in place to develop and improve upon the human resource and the infrastructure base of the GAF. President Kufuor said while improving the academic and professional competencies of the Forces, the state had not been oblivious of their welfare, therefore, the first phase of the Armed Forces Barracks Rehabilitation programme comprising about 10 projects had been completed.
He said provision had also been made in this year's budget for the second phase of the rehabilitation project to take off and the continuation of the Burma Camp Telephone Exchange project, which began last year.
Rear Admiral Jonathan Adoko, Commandant of MATS in a message to the Cadets said after their graduation, they would need to grasp the intricacies of complex national and international issues as leaders. He said they would in addition be saddled with the enormous burden of making decisions which might literally be a matter of life and death for those they lead, therefore, in the consideration of such complex decision-making, they should let their sense of duty, integrity, discipline and selflessness serve as a guide in all their dealings with the men they lead.
President Kufuor later presented awards to five Officer Cadets, who excelled during the course.
They were: Senior Under Officer Peter Abban, 28, who received the Sword of Honour for exemplary leadership qualities while Junior Under Officer Eric Annor Tommey, 21, received the Military Cane for initiative, sharpness and decisiveness.
The rest were Junior Under Officer Augustine Awuku-Annie, 26, the Academic prize for academic excellence; Cadet Sergeant Anthony Ninlaara, the Commandant's prize for academic excellence and Midshipman Joseph Tenzii had the Sextant Award for excellence in sea navigational skills.
