Eq. Guinea pledges 100,000 dollars to KAIPTC

Accra, May 5, GNA - Equatorial Guinea on Thursday pledged 100,000 dollars to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) at Teshie, Accra to improve its facilities and operations. President Theodoro Obiang N'guema M'basogo of Equatorial Guinea attending the two-day G8/NEPAD Summit on the Implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in Accra made the pledge when he paid a familiarisation tour of the Centre.

He commended Ghana for the initiative to establish the Centre to train personnel to mediate and maintain peace in conflict areas. President M'basogo said the Centre in honour of Busumuru Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations was ideal because Busumuru Annan was an outstanding statesman and competent with ideas to promote peace.

He said security personnel and diplomats from Equatorial Guinea would be sent to the Centre for training.

President John Agyekum Kufuor thanked President M'basogo for the support and said peace and stability were the most critical assets for the African Continent.

He said there were many conflicts and instability on the Continent and Ghana had the opportunity to develop the Centre that had become a Continental asset for peace building.

President Kufuor said the idea by the Government of Equatorial Guinea to send personnel to the Centre for training was laudable and would further strengthen the bond and cordial relationship between both countries.

Brigadier General Charles H. Mankatah, Commandant of the Centre, thanked President M'basogo for the gesture.

President M'basogo also visited the Military Academy and Training School (MATS), where Rear Admiral Jonathan Y. Adoko, the Commandant, briefed him.

Signing the visitor's book, President M'basogo wrote: "I feel very pleased for the exposition of MATS. I will send some personnel to be trained here."