Ghana to be oasis of peace and stability

Accra, GNA - Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, the out-going Minister of Defence, has pointed out that Ghana is on the verge of becoming an oasis of peace and stability in sub-Saharan Africa, stressing that this brings to mind the subtle way the country's Fourth Republic has been entrenched.

He made this statement when speaking to the Ghana News Agency to enumerate what he terns "his harvest of achievement" at the Ministry since his appointment in 2001 when he was appointed Minister. The out-going Minister stated that a couple of years ago, many Ghanaians and people living outside the country entertained fears over the possibility that the military could decide to take over the government.

"All this has changed over the past few years Ghanaians are comfortable with their democracy and are now confident in the Armed Forces as well," he stated.

Dr Addo-Kufuor who is also the MP for Manhyia said Ghana had won the reputation of being the most stable democracy in West Africa were the rule of law is combined with a free market economy and a steadily rising Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

"It is no wonder that Ghana stands out as a model state that the international community wants the rest of the West Africa sub-region to emulate," he remarked.

Dr Addo-Kufuor noted that while emphasis had always been placed on the country's success in good political governance and economic management, less attention had been placed on how the Armed Forces had been carefully co-opted into playing a new role in the country's development and how they had adjusted after decades of calling the shots rather than answering to civilian authority.

Lamenting on the military/civilian relationship, Dr Addo-Kufuor said the injection of professionalism into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) had resulted in an enduring peace and stability. He attributed the strengthened relation with the military to the political education programmes it had been organising in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). The main purpose was to sensitise officers in both military and civilian in matters that would promote professionalism and healthy civilian/military relation required to move the country forward, he said.

Some of the issues they addressed are political matters, constitutional provisions relating to human rights and the civic responsibilities of Armed Forces personnel, the role of the Armed Forces, topical issues affecting the nation, explanation of high command policies, health matters among others.

"The concerted effort such as those has done a world of good for relation between the military and civilian society", he affirmed. Another area of cooperation, he mentioned, was the effort to bring the media closer to the military through soirees, training workshop, seminars and the armed forces open day, which enabled civilian/media men to visit military barracks and installation to interact with soldiers and their families.

Dr Addo-Kufuor as the Minister of Defence facilitated joint military/police operation, which had been successful in helping to curb armed robbery and other violent crimes. Other activities included curbing illegal activities of chainsaw operators, which contributed to the destruction of the environment, he said adding that, it was now under control due to the effort of the GAF and the Forestry Commission.

He said that the GAF continued to patrol the borders of cocoa growing towns and villages to help curb smuggling of the precious beans. Dr Addo-Kufuor, who was declared the best minister in the year 2003, said undoubtedly that "Ghana is leading peace-keeping nation in Africa and one of the oldest" where Ghanaians had been the Force Commander and currently had a battalion in Bosnia and Namibia and an 800-strong contingent in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Ghana is also an active member of ECOMOG deploying about one-third of its estimated 7,000 personnel in peacekeeping.

He said at present GAF had two observers in Croatia, eight in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 15 in Iraq, 784 personnel in the Lebanon, 775 in Sierra Leone and 13 in Western Sahara.

In addition it had participated in a USA-sponsored Africa Crisis Response initiative as well as the French RECAP initiative respectively. He said Ghana's important role in peace-keeping culminated in the establishment of Kofi Annan peace-keeping Centre (KAPKC) near the Staff College, Teshie with an initial support of 7 million dollars from Germany for the training of people from all over the world.

Dr Addo-Kufuor was selected among 26 strong personalities by international business magazine "The Corporate Guardian" in its July/September edition 2006 headed "Movers and Shakers of Ghana's Economy".

He stated that to ensure professionalism and political neutrality of the GAF, political organization such as ACDR's and 31st December Women Movement, had been proscribed. "It's the government intention to fully engage the Armed Forces as development partners in providing for the needs, deprived and protect the environment," he pointed out.

The Armed Forces are in an agro-forestry project established at Michel Camp, near Tema on a pilot basis.

Due to its success it had been extended to other garrisons securing 410 million cedis raised through contribution by public-spirited individuals and organization while the Forestry Commission offered 50,000 seedlings to support the project.

He said to strengthen Ghana defensive system the GAF has been assisted by the acquisition of a Naval vessel from USA to assist in protecting the maritime resources of Ghana, four MI-17 helicopters from Russia for the internal and external operations of the Air force. Dr Addo-Kufuor stated that in addition a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was concluded with the University of Ghana, Legon, for the affiliation of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College to allow student do graduate studies, leading to masters degree in international relation.

As a manifestation of the untiring work of Dr Addo-Kufuor a new block to house the Ministry Defence, the outfit of the Chief Defence Staff (CDS) and the Chief Director among others would take off by the ending of this month.

"This was at an approximated cost of 3 million US dollars and the funding was 1.25 million US dollars through Chinese grant, and 1.75 million US dollars from the government of Ghana (peace-keeping account). Elaborating on how the 37 Military Hospital was completed, he said, the first phase costing the Ministry of Defence 18 million US dollars by the previous government "but the second phase cost 20 million US Dollars, was entirely the effort of Dr Addo-Kufuor".

The hospital which was commissioned in 2002 July by President J.A. Kufuor had put in place measures for it to become patient-friendly, therefore it has further equipped four emergency response unit vehicles, 13 cadet trained in first aid and two helicopters standby ever ready for emergencies.

He said the new-look Burma Hall with a library complex, which was similar to the Great Hall of the University of Ghana cost of 17 billion cedis, was noted for important activities such as examinations conferences, durbars, court martial and concerts.

To ensure that soldier lived in clean environs he has rehabilitated barracks and started over 19 more projects at the various garrisons to improve sewerage, provision of portable water and roads. Dr Addo-Kufuor at one time combined the portfolios of Defence and Interior with tact and diplomacy is qualified to contest for the highest office of the land, the presidency.

Dr Addo-Kufuor has proven that a consultant physician and a lecturer of medicine can defend the nation effectively without carrying a weapon and or firing a shot.

He successfully moved the military from the era of coup d'etat to professionalism. 07 Jul 07