Kufuor promise to modernize and resource army

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday said government is fully committed and would spare no efforts to tackle problems facing the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) until the goal of a modern and well-resourced army is achieved.

"But even as the effort is being made, we should forever be mindful that a competent military is one that is versatile and makes the best out of whatever limited resources there are at its disposal", He added.


President Kufuor said this when he reviewed a parade to commission 42 officer cadets into the GAF at the Military Academy Training School (MATS) at Teshie, Accra.


He said although there had been much improvement in the infrastructure development of the army coupled with improvement in the relationship between the military and the civilians within the past year, the task of modernising, upgrading, equipping and motivating the army was anywhere near completion.


President Kufuor asked the new officers not to look to the arms in their possession as the source of power nor the possession of the gun as what constituted bravery. He said the real source of power is the State and the Constitution to which they must be totally loyal.

President Kufuor presented Parchments of Commission and awards to deserving cadets.


Cadet Officer, Ernest Aniapa Obese received the Sword of Honour for being the best all round officer cadet, the Military Cane was awarded to Appiah Yaw Owusu, while Cadet Officer Theophilus Oswald Afotey Laryea received the Academic Cane.


Cadet Officer Andrew Kwabena Awuni received the Army Commander's prize and a Special Parachute Jump award was presented to Cadet Officer Abdul Bashiru Issah who during the training, his parachute did not open and for about 10 minutes he hanged between life and death. He, however, managed to open it and jumped to the ground, he received some injuries but continued with the training.