Soldiers conniving with smugglers will not be spared - GAF Chief Staff Officer

Brigadier-General Tetteh Akunor, Chief Staff Officer of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Tuesday warned military personnel against involving themselves in any smuggling activities.

He said personnel who also condoned and connived with smugglers did that at their own risk and would be prosecuted when arrested.

Brig-Gen. Akunor said this after inspecting a Mission Accomplishment Parade at the Third Battalion of Infantry Liberation Barracks in Sunyani.

The Ghanaian Battalion (GHANBATT) serving with the United Nations Operations in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI) began their rotation from Monday, February 18 to Tuesday, March 5, 2013.

The 116-Member UNOCI GHANBATT 17, led by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Adu-Brempong, after a successful six month tour of duty will hand over GHANBATT area of responsibility to UNOCI 18.

GAF formed UNOCI GHANBATT 17 as a taskforce in May 2012, and it was deployed in the Gontougo and Bounkani Regions in August 2012 with a mission to maintain peace and security in the war torn country.

Brig-Gen. Akunor said GAF would strive hard to maintain the high level of discipline within the force adding that it would be at ‘war’ with the few miscreants within GAF who might expose it to public ridicule or disrepute.

He said GAF acknowledged the operational performance of GHANBATT 17 during their mission in Cote D’Ivoire and gave the assurance that the authorities would continue to seek their welfare and comfort in the course of their national duties.

In a citation read for him, Major General Joseph Narh Adinkra, Chief of Army Staff, explained that Ghana had been sending troops to her immediate western neighbour since 2004 under the auspices of the United Nations Operation in Cote D’Ivoire (UNOCI).

He said the political situation in Cote D’Ivoire was relatively calm and peace building efforts were steadily progressing after the post election civil war.

Maj-Gen. Adinkra expressed appreciation to the high level of discipline, professionalism and commitment the troops exhibited which had projected the image of the country in the international community.

“Your immense contribution towards peace in Cote D’Ivoire, high standard of professionalism, discipline and selfless spirit have further projected Ghana’s outstanding image in peace support operations,” he added.