Help Ensure Peaceful Elections - Vice-President Mahama Charges GAF
Vice-President John Dramani Mahama has charged the military to display the same level of professionalism that they have exhibited in the past elections during this year’s election, to ensure a smooth and transparent election devoid of violence and acrimony.
He said in assisting to ensure peace during and after the election, the military would be exercising their constitutional mandate of promoting growth and development in the country.
The Vice-President , who made the call Friday at the West African Soldiers Social Activity (WASSA) of the General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) held at the Burma Camp, Accra, expressed the hope that the military would live up to that expectation.
WASSA is an occasion of social interaction and stock-taking for the military. Like previous years, awards were given to deserving military officers at this year's celebration.
Present at the event included the Minister of the Interior, Lt Gen J. H. Smith, Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Peter Blay, and the National Security Advisor, Brigadier Nunoo Mensah.
Vice-President Mahama said the fortunes or otherwise of the emerging oil industry coupled with success of the December 2012 election posed a great challenge this year.
Therefore, he said, “you (the military) have to gird your loins and put yourselves in pole position for achieving the much cherished results”.
The Vice-President assured the military that in the pursuit of peace and stability in the country, “there will be no room for compromises”.
“All available resources would be marshaled to ensure that you prosecute our democratic and governance agenda successfully without any hitch”.
Mr Mahama said the outstanding performance of the GAF peacekeeping troops on duty in various parts of the world continued to keep Ghana on the front pages of the world media landscape.
For instance, the troops had contributed to ensuring lasting peace in Cote d'Ivoire and assisted the United Nations to conduct elections in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mr Mahama noted that the GAF had resource constraints, and affirmed the government’s commitment to pursuing all ongoing projects and programmes aimed at improving the welfare and service conditions of the members of the GAF.
To that end, he said, the GAF had been placed on the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) since November, 2010.
His announcement that the remaining arrears of eight months on the 20 per cent salary increment following their migration onto the SSSS had been paid, received thunderous applause from the members of the GAF.
Vice-President Mahama said while the government was facing challenges with the STX housing project, the government had decided to enter into a public-private partnership with two companies to up houses for the security services.
As a result, he said, very soon the security services would see some construction work on some of their sites.
Equipment
On logistics and equipment, Mr Mahama recalled that the government quired four ships last year, while two more are expected to be delivered from Germany by June.
Government has also acquired two Casa 295 aircraft for the airforce, one of which was delivered in December, 2011, while the other one would be delivered in June, this year. Three more aircraft are expected this year.
He said four new helicopters had been ordered with two to be delivered in March, this year, and the other two later in the year, and again new parachutes had been ordered.
The Vice-President commended the military high command for coming up with a policy for the units to go into agriculture and also setting aside a week in its training year activities to relate more closely with the members of the various communities.
Support for democracy
In his welcome address, the Chief of Staff of the General Headquarters, Commodore Geoferey Biekro, gave the assurance that the GAF was poised to demonstrate to the sub-region and the rest of the world that “it stands solidly behind the march towards modern democracy both at home and abroad”.
“This requires us to redouble our efforts, be more resourceful, innovative and resilient”, he said, and urged the military to work ever harder, remain disciplined and re-affirm their loyalty and commitment to the cause of freedom and justice.
Commodore Biekro said the GAF continued to maintain troops in various peace-keeping missions, provided assistance to the Ghana Police Service to bring the internal security situation that erupted in Bawku and other trouble-prone areas in the country under control.
Commodore Biekro thanked the government for providing the GAF with four ships for the Ghana Navy and two aircraft for the Air Force.