Live Cordially With Civilians - Defence Minister

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Defence, last Wednesday toured institutions under his Ministry in Tema and called on the military to live cordially with civilians to ensure absolute security and harmony in the country.  He said a harmonious relation between the two was a morale booster to the military in its efforts to offer good security to the nation.
 
The Defence Minister toured the Eastern Naval Command, First Battalion of Infantry and the Army Recruit Training School at Shai Hills and was taken round by the commanders of the establishments.
      
Mr Kan-Dapaah also paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Tema, Nii Adjei Kraku II, at his palace.  He said West Africa Gas Pipeline Project and the recent discovery of oil in the country required extra vigilance and additional security by the Ghana Armed Forces, especially the Navy.
 
Mr Kan-Dapaah appealed to the Tema Traditional Council and the Tema Municipal Assembly to ensure that lands allocated to the military were properly documented to avoid misunderstanding between civilians and personnel of the GAF.
 
The Defence Minister commended the Tema Traditional Council for its support for the Eastern Naval Command.
 
Colonel Nana Acheampong, Officer in charge of a housing project for the armed forces, led the Minister to inspect 32 housing units that can accommodate 512 naval personnel at Tema Manhean.
      
At the First Battalion Infantry at Michel Camp, the Defence Minister had a closed door durbar with personnel.  He also inspected a three-storey recruit dormitory block project to house over 800 recruits at the Army Recruit Training School at Shai Hills in the Dangme East District.
 
Nii Kraku urged personnel of the GAF to support the Minister and to refrain from comparing him with previous Ministers.  At the Tema Municipal Assembly, Mr David Quaye Annang, the Municipal Chief Executive said Tema needed strong security because it was the heart beat of the country.
 
He said TMA had provided two pick-ups to the security agencies in the municipality with the help of corporate bodies to be used for night patrols.