President Kufuor Meets Soldiers

The President and the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor has promised the military an enhanced welfare package. The promise goes to underscore the one made earlier by the Defence Minister when he visited military installations in the country.

The package, Mr. Kufuor said, would include an improvement in the accommodation in the barracks, an SSB Bank housing loan scheme payable over 15 years and car loans payable over 5 years.

The president made the revelations during his maiden durbar with a cross section of troops from all Garrisons last Friday at the Air Force Base in Accra. It was attended by over 500 personnel including commanding officers from the Navy and Airforce.

The Commander-In-Chief said the incentives and the increase in the United Nations Peacekeeping Allowance from $16 to $20 early this year, is to let "the soldier and his family lead reasonably comfortable lives and have the peace of mind to carry out his constitutional duties."

On civilian-military relations President Kufuor urged the military to make it an immediate priority. "Positive relations between the military and civilians should be the concern of all soldiers. It is a mark of the strength and discipline of a soldier that he treats civilians with courtesy and due regard for their rights and does not bully or frighten them," he said.

He cautioned the military to shun partisan politics and to uphold the constitution of the state. He added that the abolition of political organisations such as the June 4th, 31st December Women's Movement and the ACDRs in the military is meant to ensure that soldiers do not get dragged into the partisan political arena.

"The people of Ghana, including you, have reached a consensus that the way forward is to use the ballot box to change governments. This is the only way to restore power to the people and make them confident in their rights. You must be part of the process of building a safe, happy and prosperous country."

He lauded the military for their collective effort in helping the police to stem the tide of crime in the country and in disaster management.

Earlier in the morning President Kufuor inaugurated the 9-member Armed Forces Council at the Army Headquarters in Burma Camp. The other two to add up to eleven according to the president will soon be appointed. He administered them after which they signed the oaths of office and secrecy.

They are made up of the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Defence Minister, Mr. Addo Kufuor, the Foreign Minister, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman and the Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Malik Alhassan.

Others are selected personnel from the Armed Forces including the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Army Commander, the Navy Commander and the Air Force Commander.

They were charged by the president to make the well being of the entire security their priority.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama on behalf of the council promised to address the problems of the Armed Forces.

Tragedy struck when one of the dispatch riders of the Vice President on their way to the durbar was involved in an accident. His condition as at the time of going to press was not immediately known.