Troops undergo legal seminar

Tamale, Dec. 3, GNA - Troops in Kamina Barracks in Tamale on Monday began a seminar on legal education to broaden their minds about their profession and about matters that concern the state.

Experts from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) are taking the soldiers through various topics.

Topics to be discussed included the military justice system, the road safety situation in Ghana, child rights protection and human rights and responsibilities within the Armed Forces.

The seminar is under the theme: "Enhancing Military Professionalism in the Armed Forces through Legal education" and about 100 troops drawn from the Armed Forces, the Air borne Force and the Ghana Air Force.

In a welcoming address, Group Captain Jacob Nartey, stressed the importance of the military-civilian relationship and that it was high time the military built a strong relationship with the public to erase the perception that the "uniform man was unfriendly".

He said it was only the uniform that separates the soldier from the civilian and stressed that the public should always feel free to interact with men uniform to ensure that the two grew together in "freedom".

Colonel Anane Brobbey, Director of Legal Service of the Ghana Armed Forces, who is the leader of the team of experts cautioned soldiers to stop the habit of harassi! ng people and forcing them into guard rooms for severe punishment. He said the legal year, as it is always held yearly had already taken place in Kumasi and that the seminar would also target families of troops to sensitise them on the need to protect children's rights.