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10.09.2012 Editorial

Gen Smith: We Are Disappointed

By Daily Guide
Lt Gen J.H Smith RtdLt Gen J.H Smith (Rtd)
10.09.2012 LISTEN

Lt. Gen. J.H. Smith (rtd) appears to have reduced himself into a typical National Democratic Congress (NDC) activist or a serial caller.

His subtle snide remark about the management of the Ghana Armed Forces by the Kufuor administration when he hosted Vice President Amissah-Arthur as Chairman of the Armed Forces Council last week, qualifies him for the unenviable description.

As a gentleman, a former military gentleman for that matter, we would have expected him to be mindful about 'doubling' into the minefield of local politics the way he did. Until last week, he had managed to avoid remarks which could open his flanks for attack. Now he has done just that and become a fair target.

Following in the path of the 'economy is in intensive care' remark from the then Vice President John Mahama on the assumption of office of the NDC, he too posted an uncharitable testimonial for the government which changed the lot of the then revolutionary-mentality Armed Forces.

'On assumption of its mandate in January 2009, the NDC Government found the Armed Forces in an almost run-down state. The Armed Forces equipment items were inadequate and dysfunctional as a result of fair wear and tear and accommodation for soldiers was in a deplorable state,' he told his august guest last Friday when the Number Two Gentleman made his maiden appearance at the Defence Ministry since his appointment. If he expected to leave an impression on the Armed Forces by such a testimonial, he failed.

Overwhelmed at the pace of an Addo-Kufuor-initiated development in the Armed Forces under the Kufuor administration, Lt. Gen. J.H. Smith said at the opening of the MOD Complex in 2009: 'It is proper that I let you know that the process was initiated by the former Minister of Defence, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, resulting in this grand edifice'. What a contrast! What hypocrisy!!

We can infer that he was only eye-servicing. In these weird political times in Ghana it is important to catch the attention of the President and for that matter, the Vice President, who happens to be the Chairman of the Armed Forces Council.

Unfortunately for General Smith, facts are facts and like pregnancy, they cannot be indefinitely camouflaged.

When facts are twisted in the name of dirty politics, it behoves responsible citizens to set the records straight.

The new face of Burma Hall, an ICT Centre of Excellence, the refurbishment of the 37 Military Hospital and its monumental upgrade to a post-graduate college, construction of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre and the construction of living quarters, the increase of peacekeeping allowances are some of the changes initiated by the Kufuor administration.

Some NPP-regime imported equipment including aircraft and naval vessels were taken delivery of after the departure from office of the Kufuor government and touted as an NDC gesture.

The $6.75 million Square, the appellation for the Defence Ministry, which now represents the administrative face of the country's military machine and deliberately sited outside Burma Camp to symbolically show the subservience of Armed Forces to civilian authority, is part of the good job done by the previous government.

The following citation which Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor attracted from the military sums up his singular effort and the government he served. “With great foresight, determination, fortitude and empathy, you succeeded in vastly improving the circumstances of Officers, Men and Women of the Ghana Armed Forces and thereby boosted the image of the military profession. You pursued pragmatic policies that also impacted on our civilian supporting staff and family at large. These you achieved by selflessly and diligently soliciting for support for the construction and installation of facilities that bear testimony to your stature and capacity as an astute leader in modern day Ghana.”

Gen. Smith, if you can, please reverse the remark or as it is said in military parlance 'as you were' it, because it does not chime with your status as a retired General.

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