Minister urges security agencies to be politically neutral

Sunyani (B/A), March 18, GNA- Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence on Thursday re-emphasised the need for security agencies, particularly the Armed Forces to maintain political neutrality before, during and after the December general election.

The Minister who was on a working visit to Three Garrison in Sunyani as part of a tour of military installations in the region said he could not rule out that the peace in the country might encounter challenges especially in the election year.

He reiterated the appeal to security agencies to adopt measures to protect the constitution, the peace and security of the country. Dr Addo-Kufuor stressed: "The hope of many people in this country is that Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) would enjoy in Ghana the excellent reputation it has earned for itself internationally through its peacekeeping operations".

He mentioned a number of achievements at the Ministry since the NPP government took power a little over three years ago.

Dr. Addo-Kufuor cited the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, the new out-patients' department (OPD) block at the 37 Military Hospital, a Computer Centre and Commercial Complex at Burma Camp and the renovated Nicholson Stadium.

Others are the new accommodation complex at Burma Camp, popularly called China Town, which is to cater for 108 families, the almost completed Burma Hall and Library Complex and an Agro forestry project at Michel Camp in Tema.

The Defence Minister said the GAF had also been the beneficiary of massive provision of equipment and infrastructure, saying the new posture and morale of the troops on parade at the last Independence Day Anniversary Parade in Accra testified to this.

On the conditions of service for the Ghana Armed Forces, he said: "Given the general economic situation in the country, the government has done what it could to improve the pay and service conditions".

Dr Addo-Kufuor added that there had been a reasonable rehabilitation and construction of living quarters and other facilities for the Garrisons, saying that Three Garrison was benefiting from the renovation of toilets at official residences at Blocks A1 to A18 and sewerage lines.

He announced that at the national level, 13 projects had been completed and another 65 were under construction.

Dr. Addo-Kufuor said 20 of the on-going projects were almost completed whilst 40 were 50 per cent completed and five of them below 50 per cent completion.

He promised that funds from the Defence budget and SSNIT would be sourced to complete the projects.

On the performance of Ghanaian troops in peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Minister said reports from these countries indicated that the professionalism of the Ghanaian soldier, his courage, devotion to duty and rapport with local populations "are second to none".

Dr Addo-Kufuor urged the soldiers to strive to maintain this enviable reputation and bring honour to Ghana adding, "The democratic dispensation, which is the basis of all meaningful progress and positive transformation of society must be protected and encouraged".

He noted that the country had made great strides in recent years and with support, hard work and prayers of citizens, both civilian and the military, it would become strong and prosperous.

At a forum, some of the soldiers freely asked questions which were either answered or commented on by the sector Minister, Mr. Frank K. Mpareh, Chief Director, Ministry of Defence or Brigadier George Aryiku, Commanding Officer of the Northern Command of the GAF. Major Eunice Lamptey, nursing officer in-charge of the garrison hospital made a number of requests for improvement of the medical unit, including a laboratory technician.

Lieutenant-Colonel Alhassan Abu, Commanding Officer of 3BN gave assurance of the commitment of the soldiers to the protection of Ghanaians.

Earlier Dr. Addo-Kufuor commissioned a sewerage plant constructed by Landgraf Company Limited as the local contractor and Naston Limited of United Kingdom as the main contractor.

The project, which will cater for about 5000 people, cost 200,000 pounds sterling in equipment and 1.8 billion cedis in civic works. Messrs Nigel Williams and Ken Ireland, director and construction manager, respectively, of the company later conducted Dr. Addo-Kuffuor round the essential places including the machine and chemical rooms.

Dr. Addo-Kufuor also inspected the renovated ablution unit and the construction of a sewerage system estimated at 384 million cedis being undertaken by Kilam Limited, an Accra based contractor and Mr. Malik Anwar, Managing Director.

He also inspected the renovation works at a Water Reservoir Site constructed more than 30 years ago, the Garrison's Medical Hospital and Junior Ranks Mess and interacted with pupils of a day nursery near the site.

Mr. Daniel Otchere Konadu, Technical Director of the engineering unit of Water and Sewerage Company said the renovation works on the reservoir, measuring 900 cubic metres and with a capacity for 200,000 gallons would be completed in June this year. Colonel Nana Acheampong, Director of Engineering, GAF, announced that the project would cost 304 million cedis.