GAF receives accommodation blocks from Germans

Bundase (G/A), April 11, GNA - The German Embassy in Ghana on Tuesday handed over six accommodation blocks to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at the Bundase Training Camp near Accra.

The facility, which was constructed at the cost of 3.5 billion cedis, provided by the German Government, is meant to accommodate about 300 troops while preparing for their deployment to peacekeeping missions.

Mr Peter Linder, German Ambassador in Ghana, who did the hand-over to the Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, said the facility, which was done within the framework of bilateral military cooperation, was a clear sign of the excellent state of affairs between both countries.

The work on the facility was carried out under the guidance of the German Military Advisory Group. Mr Linder said more projects were envisaged to be implemented under the bilateral programme at the Bundase Training Camp in the next two years.

They included the construction of a new field kitchen, refurbishment of washing rooms and showers and the improvement of energy supply to the camp.

Mr Linder said in the short term, the improvement of water supply to the camp would be taken into consideration, as well as the construction of four more accommodation blocks.

He informed the Minister that a Ghanaian military officer would be participating in a training session as an observer of the UN at the United Nations Training Centre in Hammelburg, Germany in May 2006. Mr Linder said this was a new activity in the field of human resource development in the bilateral cooperation between both countries and that the details were being worked out.

Dr Addo-Kufuor said the GAF had benefited immensely from the Ghana/German military cooperation and thanked the German Government for the support given the GAF over the years.

He said the vision of the Bundase Training Camp had been to establish a first class training centre with the requisite facilities for the training of troops for peacekeeping duties, and to achieve the aim, the camp required permanent structures for accommodation, offices, administrative and training purposes.

But unfortunately troops preparing for peacekeeping operations were currently accommodated in tents for the period of their stay at Bundase. He said the Ministry of Defence considered the offer of the accommodation blocks for troops a very positive step towards making the Bundase Training Camp a first class facility. The Minister expressed the hope that the facility would boost the morale of the troops, spur them on to take their training serious and further enhance the proud record in peacekeeping, as well as the important duty of defending the nation and her institutions. 11 April 06