Modernization of Ghana Armed Forces is strategic - Minister

Finance Minister Seth Terkper has said an amount of GH¢ 575,609,022 have been allocated to the Ministry of Defence.

Out of this, GH¢ 492,303,112 is from Government of Ghana, GH¢ 5,973,910 is Internally Generated Fund and GH¢ 77,332,000 is Donor.

The Finance Minister said it was government’s intention to meet the strategic requirement of the Ghana Armed Forces as well as facilitate the ministry to acquire personal weapons, troop carrying vehicles, infantry fire-assault vehicles, parachutes and accessories and road construction equipment for the Army.

Mr Terkper made this known when he presented the 2013 Budget to Parliament in Accra on Tuesday.

He said in addition, the Navy acquired fast patrol boats with the Air Force acquiring; Diamond DA 42 MPP aircraft, CASA 295 aircraft and Mi-171Sh Helicopters.

On Internal and External Peace Support Operations, he said to enhance the operations of the ministry and to support UN peacekeeping operations, over 5,000 troops were trained in local and foreign institutions and deployed to various missions abroad.

Joint military and police internal security operations were also undertaken across Ghana.

He said government was determined to provide adequate protection and security for the oil and gas industry in the Western Region and that it had established the Petroleum Security Coordinating Committee and preparatory works for the establishment of Forward Operating Bases are on-going.

The need for maintenance facilities for naval assets led to the rehabilitation of the Test-Bench and the completion of the Slipway at the Western Naval Base, Sekondi.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) improved power supply to two and six Garrisons in Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale respectively, and expanded infrastructure at the 37 Military Hospital.

Preparatory works for the construction of a 500-bed hospital at Afari near Kumasi and a 600-bed expansion of the 37 Military Hospital was undertaken.

Mr Terkper said the ministry would continue with the modernization of the Ghana Armed Forces by providing equipment to its personnel in addition to adequate training.

The ministry would also continue with the re-structuring projects including command headquarters and company locations, he said.

He said the process of acquisition of land, site preparation and drawings for the Forward Operating Base in Jomoro in the Western Region and for the Engineer Barracks in Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region would be completed as well as the on-going GAF housing projects.

According to Mr Terkper, the Ghana Navy would continue maintenance work on its fleet at the Naval Dockyard Complex in Sekondi and the refurbishment and maintenance of air platforms of the Ghana Air Force.

Mr Terkper said the ministry would maintain its fighting vehicles and equipment with a view to improving internal security operations and also ensure that clothing and other basic necessities for the officers, men, women and civilian employees of the Ghana Armed Forces were provided.