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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has assured the Ghana Armed Forces that they will be provided with the necessary resources to carry out their constitutionally mandated role of, amongst others, protecting the territorial integrity of the country.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of officer cadets of the Ghana Armed Forces at the Ghana Military Academy, on Friday, 19th October, 2018, President Akufo-Addo, indicated that since assuming the reins of office, some 21 months ago, a lot has been done by his government to improve upon the logistical and accommodational requirements of the armed forces.

“For example, government took delivery, recently, of 50 robust high-occupancy Ankai-A8 buses for the purpose of transporting service personnel across the length and breadth of the country for training and related duties. In 2017, Government donated 40 pickups to the military personnel involved in Operation Calm Life,” the President said.

Additionally, he indicated that Government has ordered an additional 135 vehicles, including Nissan hardbody pickups, Toyota Landcruisers, Toyota Landcruiser Prados, Toyota Landcruiser pickups and dispatch motorbikes, to improve the transportation facilities of the troops, with the vehicles set to arrive in Ghana within two months.

“I have also directed the Minister for Defence to begin the second phase of the project for the asphalting of roads in the barracks,” he added.

With reference to housing, it would be recalled that, in June this year, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the National Barracks Regeneration Project, which has since started in Accra and Tamale, a project, the President said, will be expanded extensively in 2019.

“Next month, in November, the Minister for Defence will cut the sod for the construction of the ‘Commander-in-Chief Sports Stadia Programme’ for garrisons in the country, with the first to be built in Tamale. It is gratifying to note that funds have already been secured for this project. Funding has also been secured for the construction of a new Army headquarters, which will begin before the end of the year,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo revealed further that a contract has also been signed for the construction of a Forward Operating Base at Enzulebu in the Western Region to protect Ghana’s oil resources.

“In conjunction with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, the Ministry of Defence has ordered six patrol boats for the Ghana Navy to help in the protection of our maritime resources and our oil fields. We have increased, since February 2017, the UN peacekeeping daily earned amount from $30 to $35, and consistently ensured that troops are paid at their operational areas, rather than being paid here at home,” he added.

Whilst acknowledging that there are still some issues to be addressed, President Akufo-Addo assured that “other accommodation and equipment needs of the Ghana Armed Forces will be duly resolved to enhance efficiency and morale.”

With the Ghana Military Academy not witnessing any significant development in its infrastructure, since its establishment in 1960, the President told the gathering that he has directed the Minister for Defence to take steps to wall off the remaining lands.

“Plans have also been put in place for the building of new, state-of-the-art infrastructure to meet the requirements of a 21st century training institution. This is a legacy I would want to bequeath to the Ghana Armed Forces,” he added.