Defence Ministry provides $100m for refurbishment of dilapidated Army Recruits Training School
The Defence Minister, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, has instructed the release of $100 million for the refurbishment of dilapidated structures at the Army Recruits Training School (ARTS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at Shai Hills.
Advertisement
Half of the amount is to be released this week.
Mr Nitiwul, who was on a working visit to the Eastern Naval Base in Tema and other military installations within that catchment area last Tuesday, expressed shock at the weak state of structures accommodating recruits at the ARTS.
He expressed disappointment at the state of affairs in the school and requested the Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Dr Evans Dzikum, to immediately begin the process to have the money released and captured under the peacekeeping budget.
The minister, who was conducted round by the Commander of the ARTS, Lt Col F.W.K. Agbebo, was shown a piece of land on which the recruits trained that had been encroached extensively.
Minister angry
Obviously angry at the development, he asked the military to initiate steps to demolish structures on the land and further urged them to make their presence felt on their property to ward off encroachers.
Mr Nitiwul was accompanied by his deputy, Major Derrick Oduro (retd); the Chief of the Defence Staff, Major General Obed Akwa; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Commodore Maxwell Mantsebi-Tei Nagai, and other officers of the Military High Command.
The first port of call by Mr Nitiwul and his team was the Eastern Naval Base in Tema, where he inspected a guard mounted in his honour and held a closed-door meeting with officers at the base.
From there, the minister paid a courtesy call on the Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku II, to formally introduce himself and seek his support for the officers and men of the GAF within the Tema enclave.
The chief wished the minister well and offered prayers for him and his entourage to succeed.
Funds for project
The Defence Minister inspected accommodation projects meant for personnel of the Ghana Navy being constructed by Amandi Construction.
Some of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) buildings belonging to the Navy had been stalled for the last 10 years and the minister stated that GH¢23 million had been earmarked to complete the project and urged the officials to source and utilise the money before December this year or risk losing it.
The tour ended with a durbar at Michel Camp, where Mr Nitiwul responded to specific concerns raised by the military personnel.
He spoke on a wide range of issues, including the government’s decision to increase the peacekeeping allowance from $31 to $35 and the need to increase the service years from 25 to 30 years, explaining that the move was meant to create an avenue for the country to benefit more from the experience of soldiers.
The minister pledged the government’s determination to retool the GAF, adding: “At the end of four years, we expect to see a more professional, well-equipped and motivated Ghanaian soldiers pursuing further excellence in peacekeeping operations.”
