Rawlings told to leave army in peace

Accra, Sept. 5, GNA - The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Monday advised Former President Jerry John Rawlings to leave the Military out of politics to enable it to concentrate on its responsibility of ensuring national security.

A statement signed by Colonel E.W.K Nibo, Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces said: "the Armed Forces is not amused that the former President should continue to drag the name of high ranking officers of the service into matters with political connotation.

It asked, "what has Major General Aryiku got to do with Odododiodoo Constituency bye-election for which he is being castigated by the former President? Was he not the same person who honoured Gen. Aryiku with a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for brilliant display of professionalism in Liberia and untainted loyalty to the state of Ghana during his tenure of office as the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces?"

The statement said GAF was therefore surprised about the Former President, who allegedly questioned the professional competence of the Major General.

The alleged statement said : General Aryiku, was he not the Brigade Commander of the Northern Command when the Yaa Naa was killed?. What did he do about it when his party saw to the killing of Yaa Naa and forty of his people.?" He also expressed similar sentiments on the death of Alhaji Molbila in military custody.

According to GAF such matters and statements sow seeds of discord and concern and therefore, appealed to all who have political ambitions to leave the Armed Forces and it's personnel out of the political arena.

GAF said Gen Aryiku did not earn his present rank on a silver platter rather he worked hard to achieve it. Gen. Aryiku is said to have worked for peace and security not only in Ghana but in the sub-region as the first Ghanaian Battalion Commander to set foot in Liberia with ECOMOG during the heat of the Liberian debacle in 1990.

It called for the support and cooperation of all Ghanaians in the country's search for stable, peaceful and secure environment, which are necessary prerequisites for development and progress.

"Indeed, it is our collective task to build and not to destroy our motherland since we all have no alternative country.