Garrison houses to be rehabilitated - Prez Mahama
Procurement processes are underway for the rehabilitation of military garrison houses across the country, President John Dramani Mahama has announced.
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Additionally, he said, new apartment blocks would be put up to provide adequate housing for personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Speaking at this year's graduation ceremony of the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) at Teshie in Accra yesterday, President Mahama said the government was determined to consistently support the GAF to deliver.
The 94-member graduating class comprised regular and short services/oblique special duties cadets from Ghana, Togo and Benin.
Established 55 years ago, the GMA is noted for its high quality training, with a number of African countries taking advantage of the academy to train their officers.
Awards were presented to cadet officers who excelled in various disciplines.
The Sword of Honour awarded to the best all-round officer cadet went to Senior Under Officer Rodney Odoi.
The Best Female award in the short course went to Junior Under Officer Priscilla Edem Dzoku.
New lease of life
President Mahama recalled the period when the GAF had to do with obsolete equipment until 2009 when President Mills commissioned him, then as Vice-President and
Chairman of the GAF Council, to commence the retooling and re-equipping of the military.
That, he said, resulted in the purchase of a surveillance and trainer aircraft for the Ghana Air Force.
In addition, a CASA passenger aircraft to replace the overage F27 transport fleet, four new MH17 helicopters for the Air Force and seven vessels for the Navy were procured.
Besides, he said, peacekeeping contingents were supplied with all the necessary tools and equipment to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.
Emerging threats
Touching on emerging security threats around the world, President Mahama said they were a challenge to the GAF to train and prepare for them.
"Across the world, there are increasingly new emerging security challenges, including piracy, terrorism and drug trafficking.
"Many non-state actors have managed to obtain sophisticated and lethal weaponry and are able to attack and terrorise innocent citizens of nation states in which they operate," President Mahama said.
"We stand in solidarity with nations confronted with terrorism," he added.
The GAF, the President said, had a proud history which must be guarded and urged the graduating class to build on it.