Condom wallets for troops

The Ghana Armed Forces has introduced a new dress code for its members- they are to carry on them always, condom wallets. The authorities supplied the wallets to them. This forms part of the efforts by the GAF to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Military.

Lt-Colonel Dela K. Sakyi, Commanding Officer of the Sixth Battalion of Infantry (6BN), disclosed this last Friday at the annual get-together (WASSA) of the troops at the Kamina Barracks. Speaking about activities engaged in by the battalion, he said that they had also embarked on agricultural and afforestation project.

Already, they have planted a 650-acre land with 4,000 tree seedlings. Mr Issah Ketekewu, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, said that a recent survey by a reputable organization showed that 65 per cent civilian polled had good image of the military, adding that even though that was not bad but the military could do more to improve on that.

He urged wives of the soldiers to organise themselves into groups in order that they can qualify to benefit from the business assistance government was giving to local entrepreneurs.