British Government Supports Defence Ministry

The Ministry of Defence has secured £660,000 from the British Government to relocate the Junior Staff College from the Military Academy and Training School, at Teshie in Accra, to the Ghana Armed Forces command and Staff College (GAFSCC).

The move is aimed at bringing the two schools together while at the same time improving the facilities.

A source close to the Ministry of Defence, which disclosed this in Accra yesterday said the money was secured during the visit of the Minister for Defence, Dr Kwame Addo Kufour, to the United Kingdom.

It said the Minister had very positive discussions with his British counterpart on the possibility of the secondment of British Medical Professors to the 37 Military Hospital's Postgraduate Medical School.

The source added that Dr Addo-Kufuor outlined his aspiration in the medium term for a high-level course in Ghana for senior management in government, the security sector, industry, public service and the diplomatic corps from across the sub-region.

It said during the Defence Minister's visit, he toured some institutions such as the Royal College of Defence Studies, the Defence College of Management and Technology, the Joint Services Command and Staff College and the Defence Academy in Shrivenham and held high-level discussions with the heads of these institutions.

The source said Dr Addo-Kufuor also visited VT Shipbuilding in Portsmouth to discuss the possible co-operation between it and the Ghana Navy.

The source said the United Kingdom Minister for the Armed Forces, Mr Adam Ingram, on his part requested further participation by a Ghanaian officer with the UK-sponsored International Military Assistance Training Team in Sierra Leone.

It said a dinner was later held in honour of the Minister for Defence at the Lancaster House, attended by dignitaries such as the Ghana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr Annan Cato, top British officials and officials of the British Defence Ministry.