President inaugurates housing project at Duala Barracks
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, yesterday inaugurated 64 apartments for the military at the new Duala Barracks in Accra.
The project forms part of a Barracks Regeneration Programme initiated by the government in 2017 to address the accommodation challenges facing personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Advertisement
The apartments, on which work commenced in August 2017, are the first set of buildings to be completed under the project.
They consist of four blocks, each containing 16 flats of two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and standard sanitary facilities.
Efforts
President Akufo-Addo said over the last three years, the government had worked diligently to improve conditions of the GAF to enable them to perform their roles more efficiently.
He said similar accommodation projects were nearing completion at the Airborne Force, Six Infantry Battalion in Tamale and other garrisons.
He urged the Military High Command to ensure that the facilities were maintained for them to stand the test of time.
He also advised occupants of the flats to guard against fire outbreaks, which had been taking a toll on both office and residential accommodation for the GAF in recent times.
He announced that the sod would soon be cut for work on the second phase of the Burma Camp roads rehabilitation project.
COVID-19 fight
On the COVID-19 pandemic, the President said: “I am proud of your exceptional diligence and vigilance in ensuring that the protocols and restrictions I outlined were complied with, especially during the three-week partial lockdown of Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Kasoa.”
He said the country had also taken notice of the strengthening of relations between the military and the citizenry during the period leading to the clearing of filth, the disinfection of markets and the provision of water and other basic services for the needy and vulnerable.
He reminded military personnel to continue to observe the physical distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols as they discharged their duties.
Investment
The Minister of Defence, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, said the government had so far invested GH¢680 million in the Barracks Regeneration Programme and commended the President for his bold initiative in launching the programme.
He said currently 642 two-bedroom units and 12 four-storey, two-bedroom flats as well as other infrastructure development were ongoing in the country to provide accommodation for personnel of the GAF and redevelopment of the Military Academy and Training School at Teshie into a modern military academy.
He said additional 10 blocks, totalling 40 two-bedroom units, had been completed in Tamale and would be handed over to the GAF in July this year.
Professionalism
For his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General Obed Boamah Akwa, said since the assumption of office of the President, the government had continued to equip the GAF, which had enabled them to carry out their respective duties effectively.
