Keep soldiers out of politics -JAK

Accra, June 22, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has called on the Military High Command in the West African Sub-Region to re-establish the discipline that would keep soldiers out of politics.

Additionally, they should ensure that nobody was allowed to hide behind the Military to shortcut his way to political power. "You should not allow anybody under the pretence of militarism to subjugate the Sub-Region."

President Kufuor was speaking during a courtesy call on him by Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member countries, attending the 16th ECOWAS Defence and Security Committee meeting in Accra on Thursday at the Castle, Osu. Lieutenant General Joseph Boateng Danquah, Ghana's Chief of Defence Staff, led them to the Castle and present was the Defence Minister, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor.

President Kufuor noted that the Sub-Region had suffered a lot of conflicts and destabilisation, which had distorted its proper image and asked that the Military should be the vanguard of the stability so far achieved.

"Our Continent has been described as a scar on the conscience of humanity. Our peoples are suffering from poverty, diseases and other handicaps and if the Military should turn on us how can we hold our heads high among the races of the world?@, he queried.

The Armed Forces, he said, should be there to protect the Constitution, territorial integrity and stability of the countries in the Sub-Region.

President Kufuor gave the assurance that Governments in West Africa would support and adequately equip the proposed West African Stand-by Force to deal with those, who might want to create confusion so that the Sub-Region could achieve peace to develop.

Major General Boureima Moumouni, Chairman of the Defence Chiefs, informed President Kufuor that the meeting reviewed the security situation; discussed the proliferation of small arms and the protection of children in the Sub-Region.

Besides, it also decided on the creation of a Standby Force for West Africa with the strength of 6,500. A Chief of Defence Staff for the Force had been appointed and that by the year 2010, it should be operational.

The report of the meeting, he said, would be submitted to the ECOWAS.

The Defence Chiefs used the occasion to congratulate the National Team, the Black Stars for qualifying for the knockout stage of the World Cup tournament in Germany.

Also at the Castle, to pay a courtesy call on President Kufuor was a delegation from the Ecobank Trans-national Incorporated led by its outgoing Chairman, Chief Philip Asioudu. They were in the country to hold their Board meeting. President Kufuor said given the leadership of the Bank, he was convinced that it would go to places.