Kufuor, Schroeder inaugurate KAIPTC

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday said peace could not be established with the cessation of hostilities only but also by the elimination of causes of war or armed conflict and the creation of an environment in which human aims and aspirations could be pursued constructively.

He said lessons learnt after decades of armed conflicts in Africa and Ghana's long experience of peacekeeping and peace building indicated that short-term humanitarian relief and interventions, though important did not adequately address the situation in conflict and post-conflict societies.

President Kufuor said these when he jointly inaugurated the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre (KAIPTC) at Teshie in Accra with the visiting German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder. Although the document for the establishment of the KAIPTC was written in 1998, work started on the Centre in 2002 when the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany granted 1.8 million Euros towards the cost of the facility.

The aim of the Centre is to develop a regional centre of excellence where education, training and research concerning peace operations are to be delivered to the highest academic and professional standards.

Facilities at the Centre, which was completed in September 2003, include classrooms, administrative offices, an auditorium and a simulation centre.

Phase two of the project which is underway and due to be completed in May this year would also have a conference facility, capable of accommodating up to 200 delegates.

President Kufuor said Africa was still faced with the challenge to promote peace and the Centre would support the economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its Leadership in this direction. He pledged Government's commitment to continue to provide financial and logistic to sustain the Centre.

Chancellor Schroeder said without peace, the people of Africa would not have the chance of sharing in the benefits of globalisation. He expressed the hope that with able leadership under the chairmanship of President Kufuor, ECOWAS with its Leaders would work towards restoring peace and stability in the Sub-Region.

He commended the decision of Leaders on the continent to set up their own network of peace building and support mechanisms, saying it was welcomed and pledged German support.

Chancellor Schroeder said Africa needed to develop its police, military and civil society organs adequately and the Centre was well equipped to make this happen.

He commended Ghana's commitment to peacekeeping and peace support operations worldwide and expressed the hope that ECOWAS countries would all adopt a common approach to the goals of the KAIPTC. Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Defence Minister, paid tribute to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for the heroic role they have been playing in peacekeeping endeavours.

He said that since their first involvement in the Congo situation in the early 60s they had distinguished themselves in peacekeeping endeavours in many parts of the world.

Dr Addo Kufuor said that GAF had acquired immense experience from all peacekeeping operations that it had undertaken, and that the Ghanaian soldier had always shown exemplary courage, professionalism, dedication to duty, respect and goodwill towards the local population. The KAIPTC, he said, therefore, provided Ghana with the opportunity and a forum to share its expertise with countries in the Sub-Region, and the rest of the world.

At present, Ghana has troops engaged in peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Lebanon and La Cote d'Ivoire. The KAIPTC is designed to complement the tactical training provided at Zambarkro in Cote d'Ivoire and the strategic level training, which is provided at the Nigerian Defence College in Abuja. The Centre would thus serve as a link between the two schools. It would provide mission oriented training at the operational level in Peace Support Operation for selected participants prior to their induction into areas of operations.

The Centre is also to be designated for the training of permanent ECOWAS standby units.