South Africa, GAF explore areas of cooperation

Accra, Feb. 15, GNA - A five-member delegation from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is in the country on a three-day fact-finding mission to explore areas of possible military cooperation with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

Headed by Lieutenant General Tempa Templeton Matanzima, Chief of Human Resource of the SANDF, the delegation seeks to secure agreements in the areas of training, particularly in peacekeeping operations, human resource and technology transfer.

At a meeting with the Defence Minister, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor at Burma Camp in Accra on Thursday, Lt. Gen. Matanzini said the SANDF sought to strike new ties with the GAF because of its vast expertise and experience in conflict resolution on the continent and worldwide. "We are here to discover new areas to establish peace for the economic development of our country and continent," he said. "We appreciate what Ghana is doing on the continent and it is important to learn from those who have already blazed the trail in peace building. We have room for improvement", he said. The SANDF was established in 1994 to incorporate all races in South Africa after the apartheid era. But even though it is regarded as one of the most modern armed forces on the continent in terms of armament, technology and human resource, it is relatively new to the concept of peacekeeping operations.

Dr. Addo-Kufuor said the GAF had a lot to learn from the SANDF because of the modern nature of its armed forces. He said the GAF regarded human resource as a major concern for forces in the sub-region, the continent and in the world. The Minister told the delegation that the GAF was willing to help SANDF with any assistance it needed that fell within the purview of the armed forces.

The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the GAF, Lt. Gen. J.B. Danquah said training was the bedrock of any armed forces, as without good human resource management systems, discipline could not be achieved in any force.

He said the GAF was ready and prepared to ensure that gains made in the sub-region and in the country were protected and called for unity in order to ensure stability on the continent.