Ghana Armed Forces to beef up security (page 38)

Story: Michael Donkor
THE Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) are to beef up security by increasing the number of troops and military vehicles for patrol to ensure that the country enjoys untainted peace and stability in 2008.
Consequently, new vehicles were acquired in December 2007 for the GAF, while the soldiers have intensified their training in preparation for the tasks to be assigned during the year.
The Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen J.B. Danquah, who disclosed this in an interview in Accra yesterday, said notwithstanding inadequate finance and logistics, the military would play its roles as usual in ensuring that maximum and effective professional approach was applied to all assigned tasks.
He urged personnel at the levels of command and staff to continue to apply pragmatic and innovative ideas to all future tasks in order to surmount the challenges underpinning their future missions.
Lt Gen Danquah said their collective effort and teamwork in that direction were crucial in ensuring that they were able to defend and protect the integrity and sovereignty of the motherland and provide an enabling environment for the progress and development of their beloved country throughout the ensuing year and at all times.
He also entreated all ranks to adhere to laid down regulations and procedures which should not be compromised at any time because “that is what makes the military tick”.
Lt Gen Danquah appealed to all Ghanaians to assist the military, as well as the security agencies, to provide the needed environment for people to go about their duties.
The Chief of the Defence Staff said the GAF had acquired new vehicles which would be used to patrol the highways, while more troops would be provided for “operation calm life” which was to clamp down on armed robbers and other deviants in the society.
He said without the support of Ghanaians, all those measures would be in vain and consequently urged Ghanaians to provide timely information on criminals to the security agencies for appropriate steps to be taken.
Lt Gen Danquah assured the public of their anonymity if they provided the security agencies with information on criminals.
He said 2007 was an auspicious year in the history of both the GAF and the country, explaining that 2007 had been
loaded with so many activities, being the Jubilee Year, which had various security implications and expressed his gratitude to all Ghanaians for their support and co-operation in the management of peace and security in the country.
On behalf of the Military High Command, he wished President J.A. Kufuor, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the GAF, the government and the people of Ghana the best during the year and assured them that the military would continue to assist to protect the Constitution.