MPs calls for better living conditions for army

Accra, March 22, GNA - Members of Parliament on Thursday urged government to seriously tackle the welfare concerns of the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure peace and stability in the country.

The members said security was key to development and the army needed reasonable comfort to secure peace in and out of Ghana. Members were contributing to a debate to adopt a report of the Finance Committee for a 20 million-dollar credit facility for the Ghana Armed Forces housing project.

Mr Edward Doe-Adjaho, Deputy Minority Leader, said it was important for the House to be furnished with more information detailing the number of housing units to be built in each region and each district. Defence Minister, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, said when soldiers, due to lack of accommodation, were made to live among civilians, it hindered troop mobilisation, security and discipline, among others. He said the level of enlistment had gone up and there was the need to increase the stock of dwelling units for the troops.

The Committee's report said the disbursement of the loan would be made in tranches and recommended to parliament to grant the required waiver all taxes, duties, license fees, stamp fees and other applicable charges relating to the agreement between the government and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust The loan has an eight-year repayment period, 10-year maturity period and 0.05 per cent processing fees.