Ambassador to Mali receives military contingent

The first batch of Ghana’s military contingent to Mali arrived in Bamako on Tuesday, 11th February, 2013, as part of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), to help ensure the territorial integrity of the country. The initial batch of thirty soldiers, which forms part of a 120 strong-Engineer Corps, arrived on board a British Royal Air force Jumbo plane and were met on arrival at the Bamako Senou International Airport by Ghana’s Ambassador to Mali, His Excellency Mr. Donald Adabere Adabre.

Addressing the contingent after a short parade on the tarmac amidst war chants and other Ghanaian songs of encouragement, Ambassador Donald Adabre expressed his delight and that of his Mission for the arrival of the Ghanaian contingent in Mali to support a sisterly country reclaim her territory from the hands of insurgents. He asked the soldiers to first and foremost think of themselves as veritable Ambassadors of Ghana, as any action they take, whether professional or private, would tell on the good name of Ghana. He also entreated them to build upon the excellent image of Ghana in the area of international peace enforcement and peacekeeping, for which the country had been known since pre-independence era through to the Congolese and Lebanese crises.

While asking them to remain professional at all times, His Excellency the Ambassador assured the contingent of the support of the Embassy in the course of their work in Mali and requested them to hold high the flag of Ghana all through the course of their duty in the country.

It may be mentioned that, the full complement of Ghana’s troops contribution will be reached by Saturday 16th February, 2013, when the entire 120 force contingent would have arrived. Ghana’s Engineer Corps are expected to help with the on-going military campaign to reclaim the north of Mali, by providing the combat troops with supplies such as water and electricity, the construction of bridges, trenches, accommodation and other facilities on the field of combat against the Islamist insurgents, who have occupied that part of Mali since April 2012.

Accompanying the Ambassador to meet the men were Colonel Peter Ghansah, the Ghanaian Contingent Commander to AFISMA, Mr. Daniel Okaiteye-Blessyn, the Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. David Sefa-Boakye as well as Mr. Larry Kumi, both from the Ghana Embassy in Mali.

February, 2013