Ghana to acquire two personnel carrier aircraft from Brazil

Accra, May 31, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Monday announced that Ghana was in the process of acquiring two personnel carrier aircraft from Brazil that could work in inclement weather and better ensure the safety of passengers.

President Mills made the announcement during an interaction he requested with representatives of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Central Band and a Detachment of the 66 Artillery Regiment at the Castle, Osu on Monday. The GAF Central Band and Artillery Regiment played very important roles during the investiture of President Allasane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire at Yamoussoukro on May 21 2011.

However, after finishing their assignment, the Ghana Air Force plane carrying them to Ghana could not weather the cloudy storms, and had to go back to land in Yamoussoukro, after being airborne for close to two hours. They had to return home the next day.

President Mills thanked them for the significant role they played during the investiture. The GAF Central Band was under the command of the Lt. Col Francis Kwaku Ennin and the Detachment of the 66 Artillery Regiment was under the command of Corporal Samuel Yaw Essel.

President Mills, who sat next to President Ouattara during the ceremony, said his sitting position at the ceremony was a signal to the whole world on the cooperation between the two sister nations. He said President Quattara expressed his appreciation for their participation and again when he met him at Abuja, Nigeria at the weekend during the swearing-in of President Goodluck Jonathan, 93he came to thank us for sending you there and gracing the occasion.

"Your performance made us very proud. On behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, I say a very big thank you for your exceptional performance."

The President, who is also the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, upon the request of President Ouattara, directed the participation of the Central Band.

Those at the Castle included Lt. Col Ennin; Corporal Janet Quadjie, Female Mivurette of the Band and Corporal Essel.

Also present at the meeting were Lt. Gen Joseph Henry Smith (rtd), Minister of Defence and Lt Gen Augustine Blay, Chief of Defence Staff. In a related development, a delegation from Southern Sudan, led by the Minister of Health Mr Luka Tombekana delivered a special message from Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir inviting President Mills to attend the declaration of Southern Sudan as a republic on July 9, 2011. President Mills told the delegation that Ghana would be fully represented.