Soldiers' salary to be reviewed annually

Kumasi, May 15, GNA - The salary scale of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces will be reviewed annually, Dr Kwame Addo- Kufuor, the Minister of Defence has said.

The review, which was hitherto done once in every two years, is to enhance the working conditions of servicemen. He was interacting with soldiers of the Four Garrison as part of his visit to the garrison in Kumasi on Monday.

Dr Addo-Kufuor said the government was doing all that it could to improve their pay and service conditions in spite of the general economic situation in the country.

He underscored the role the garrison was playing to enhance peace and order in the country and the sub-region and said the people of Ghana and the government appreciated their efforts.

The minister said the government also appreciated the support the officers, men and women of the service gave to the police in "Operation Calm Life" and to the Forestry Commission in "Operation Halt". He said the government was proud of the achievements of the Ministry of Defence since it came to power and that the most difficult problem, which was accommodation in all the garrisons, was being addressed. Among the initiatives taken was the provision of 20 million dollar for an urgent housing scheme for the troops

Dr Addo-Kufuor said the money has been used to construct 18 four-storey blocks, each housing 16 families, and work has begun on the project at Accra, Takoradi, Tema, Ho and Tamale garrisons and would be completed by the end of the year.

The Minister said the accommodation problem in the Armed Forces could also be attributed to the retention of over aged personnel due to lack of funds to release them and that 76 billion cedis was required for the release of these personnel.

He said the ministry was seeking for funds and that once this was done about 600 accommodation units would be available for serving personnel. The minister inspected some construction and renovation projects at the garrison and later paid a courtesy call on Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, the Ashanti Regional Minister.