BUDGET: Over 231 billion cedis earmarked for defence

More than 231 billion cedis has been earmarked for the activities of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) this year. Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, who announced this in this year's budget statement, said a provision of four billion cedis has been made for the continuation of the Armed Forces Housing Project and five billion cedis for the commencement of the Burma Camp Exchange Project to enhance efficient communication.

During the year, the Ministry will also embark on the refitting of naval ships at the Sekondi Naval Base.

Mr. Osafo-Maafo said the government would work together with the personnel of the armed forces to possibly define an additional role for the forces to tap their organisational ability and technical skills to deal with developmental problems of poverty and illiteracy.

The Finance Minister said the MOD would ensure that a larger percentage of funds generated through peacekeeping activities is paid to the troops to boost their morale.

The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) will improve logistics of agencies under it and recruit and train 1,000 police personnel by the end of the year to achieve a police-civilian ratio of 1:1,000.

Mr Osafo-Maafo announced a provision of 203.82 billion cedis to the MOI, with an allocation of 1.4 billion cedis for the purchase of equipment and other logistics to enhance its operations.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Mr. Osafo-Maafo said, has been given more than one billion cedis to enable it to acquire modern crime prevention and detection equipment and vehicles to increase their effectiveness.

In addition, he said, the police Service has been provided with six billion cedis to complete on-going projects and rehabilitate various stations and barracks.