Soldiers living in deplorable apartments at Volta barracks

Soldiers at the 66 Artillery Regiment are said to be facing serious accommodation challenges at the Volta barracks in Ho.

Apart from inadequate apartments to accommodate the gunners within the barracks, the existing facilities have fast deteriorated over the years.

The roofing of the buildings have deteriorated beyond repairs, as rain water often leak through them to soak the belongings of the soldiers and their families, according to the commanding officer of the regiment, Lt. Col. Selorm Amengor.

Lt. Col. Amengor, who was briefing the Defense Minister Dr. Benjamin Kumbour and his entourage during a working visit to the garrison, said “a lot of the roofs of the soldiers’ accommodations have seriously deteriorated and leak whenever it rains. The situation is so bad... the roofs as you can see have been patched so many times that, right now an entire re-roofing is needed.”

Revealing other worsening conditions in the barracks, the commanding officer said: “A special attention for this garrison is that three families now use one water close set, and this is not hygienic.”

“We also have a two four-storey uncompleted accommodation which when completed will be able to accommodate 16 families. This project has been at a standstil since 2012. The release of funds for them to be completed will ease the serious accommodation problems facing the regiment.”

Dr. Kumbour, who was appalled by the situation across all the various garrisons in Ghana, said his ministry will begin some remedial measures to address it.

“The conditions cut across all the garrisons I have been to so far and this should not be the conditions under which our soldiers should be living.

“In fact the commander in chief has directed me to carry out this physical inspections and we should take immediate remedial measures. We're thinking that between now and April next year, You should begin to see some physical changes across all the garrisons in the country,” the defense minister assured.