President of Ghana and the
Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), President John Dramani
Mahama, has reiterated his commitment to retooling the GAF in order that the
service is able to ensure security of the country’s borders, airspace and
maritime domains.
The equipping drive which commenced in
2009 under the Late President John Mills will see the GAF receive a set of new
aircraft – including four new Z9 helicopters, five new SUPER Tucano, suitable
for training and assault purposes, and the construction of a new 500-bed Ultra-modern
hospital in Kumasi, to be owned by the GAF .
He made these known during the 2014
edition of the General Headquarters’ (GHQ) WASSA celebration at the
headquarters car park in Accra on Friday, 13 February 2015.
In the face of the increasing levels of
sophisticated crime around the world, security services home and abroad are
confronted with the challenge of having to device top-of-the-match tactics and
techniques, to combat these forms of crimes.
The need to adopt the most adept forms
of crime-fighting approaches has become imperative on the continent, due
largely to the rise in issues of terrorism.
It is against this backdrop that
President John Mahama has renewed his commitment towards ensuring the GAF is
adequately tooled to aid the collective fight against these forms of crime.
In his remarks at the 2014 edition of
the general Headquarters’ WASSA celebration, he said the upgrade of the
facilities at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), with
the construction of new auditorium, lecture halls among others has earned the
college accreditation to become a fully-fledged military university, and will
offer a Master of Science Degree in Military Science this year, and commence a
PhD in the same course in the coming year.
He added that, his government would
expand the facilities at the Ghana Military Academy and Training Schools, so as
to double the intake of cadets from the current number of hundred officer
cadets to two hundred.
In the face of an expanding economy he
said, lie the contention with threats to national security, hence the need for
proper defence mechanisms in the face of the massive unpredictability of the
society.
President Mahama noted that, the
capacity to wage war on such threats that abound needs more than the use of
conventional forces, especially against troops that have emerged recently
wreaking havoc through suicide bombings and mass terror attacks.
“We must prepare and train for any
eventuality – hostage situations, bombings, and attacks on shopping malls among
others. Government would therefore continue to work with you, in our
progressive effort to upgrade the GAF into a vibrant force in the sub region
and enhance your capacity in contributing to the sustainable growth of our
economy,” he added.
The C-I-C further extended a hand of
commendation to the Ghana Armed Forces, for their gallantry in the discharge of
their duties, culminating in the arrest recently of some eight heavily armed
pirates on the MS Marian vessel on our territorial waters.
The Chief of Staff, Maj Gen Bobson
Saagbul in his address, emphasised GAF’s determination to continue to partner
other security services to fight crime, project vital national installations
and respond to national emergencies.
GAF, he said is ready and willing to
join the international community at all times to bring peace and security to
troubled parts of the world in furtherance of the international diplomatic
agenda of the government and to ensure peace and security across the country.
Maj Gen Saagbul stressed the need for
constant upgrading of equipment, training and strategies for GAF to keep pace
with the changing dynamics in both domestic and international responsibilities
since crime and insurgency have become more complicated worldwide.
The COS lauded the efforts of government
in running the affairs of GAF and noted that the military high command recognises
the President’s efforts towards ensuring the efficiency and productivity of
GAF‘s operations.
He further praised officers, men &
women and the civilian employees for administering their human resource in a
manner that encouraged hard work, discipline, dedication to duty and culture of
unity despite obvious challenges.
Three officers and other ranks were awarded for excelling in the Chief of the Defence Staff
Annual Essay Prize competition.
Present at the occasion were the
Chairperson of the Council of State Mrs Cecilia Johnson, Lt Gen Seth Kofi Obeng
member of the Council of State, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee
on Defence and Interior, Hon Fritz Baffour, Mr Yaw Donkor National Security
Coordinator, Deputy Defence Minister Mr Alexander Segbefia, Service Chiefs,
Senior Officers, Defence Attaches, among others.
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