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General News of Wednesday, 13 October 2004

Source: Ministry of Defence

Development in the Defence Sector - Official Statement From Ministry of Defence

DR. KWAME ADDO KUFUOR, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE?S RESPONSES TO PARLIAMENTRY QUESTIONS ON DEVELOPMENTS IN HIS SECTOR ON 13-10-04, ACCRA

QUESTION:- Mr. Joseph Darko-Mensah (Okaikoi-North): To ask the Minister for Defence whether with the current infrastructural developments provided at the 37 Military Hospital, it is sufficiently equipped with modern hospital equipment to meet international standards and what other future progammes his Ministry has for the expansion of the hospital.

 

RESPONSE:- Mr. speaker, I beg to respond to the above question, first by indicating that since the establishment of the 37 Military Hospital during the second World War, the normal wear and tear have taken their toll on the buildings and equipment, thus necessitating a general refurbishment at the Hospital.

 

Phase 1 projects

 

The first phase, which had already been completed, started in 1996, and involved the reconstruction of the:

 

1. Operating Theatres.

2. Mortuary.

3. Yaa Asantewa Ward for Female Officers.

4. Male Officers Ward, and Intensive Care Unit and X-Ray?? Department.

5. Other Ranks? Male and Female Wards.

 

Phase 2 projects

 

The second phase, which started in July 2002 by the current Government was completed and commissioned in January 2004.

This phase of the development consisted of :-

(1)   An Out patient Department Complex and

(2)   ?A Male Surgical Ward.

 

1.                  Out-Patient Department Complex

2.                   

The new out-patient department complex comprises a cafeteria and shopping mall, with adequate rest rooms and provision fore the disabled. There is a Health Information Systems department, a Polyclinic, Medical, Surgical, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, Dental, Obstetrics and Gynecology, ENT and pathology departments. In addition, there is a pharmacy, public Health and Physiotherapy departments and a bloc of consultants? offices, which incorporate a Medical Library. Thus, the capacity of the hospital to provide the required high standard of health care has been enhanced.

3.                  A Male Surgical Ward.

Phase 3 Projects

 

For the future, there are plans for a third phase - which will include the provision of a 120-bed capacity Children?s Ward, a 150-bed capacity Maternity Block a modern National Accident and Emergency Unit.

Rehabilitation of the Nurses Training College, Midwifery school and school of Anesthesia

Construction of Housemen and Residents Hostel and Construction of modern library for the hospital. These projects when finally completed would make the 37 Military Hospital one of the finest Centers of Excellence in the entire sub-region, and possibly Africa.

 

Human Resource Development Programme

 


Parallel to all these infrastructural developments would be the human resource development package to produce high caliber health professionals to man the expanded scope of work and to ensure that the hospital becomes an important component of the National Postgraduate Medical College. In this connection, efforts are far advanced for the requirement of the Hospital. The intention is to make the Military Hospital the staging post for returning Ghanaian Specialists and Consultants to offer their services to the clinical departments as well, work as lecturers at the post Graduate Medical College and the conducts of research. It is hoped that all these developments will help to greatly enhance the level of health care in Ghana.


 


Equipment Support


 


Mr. Speaker, it will interest the House to note that the equipment facilities at the refurbished 37 Military Hospital conform to modern international standards. In the circumstance, the Hospital has started receiving patients from neighboring sister countries. My Ministry is now considering application from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to use the facilities for training medical students in the clinical disciplines.


 


QUESTION:-????????????? Mr. Joseph Darko-Mensah (Okaikoi0North) To ask the Minister for Defence whether the Government of Ghana has made financial contributions towards the construction of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) to date and if so how much?

 

RESPONSE:- Mr. Speaker, I deem it necessary to provide some background information on the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC) as a prelude to answering the question asked by the Honorable Member, especially since this is the first time this internationally acclaimed facility is being discussed by the House.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 

The Ghana Government drawing on the experiences of her soldiers in peacekeeping over the years, decided in 1998 to establish a centre within the sub-region that would build and enhance the capacity of African States in the conduct of action dealing with peacekeeping operations. Initially, the Centre was to be located at Akoefe in the Volta Region. However, on my visit to the site in 2001, it was realized that the site was not conducive for the centre. Consequently, following discussions with the then German Ambassador in Ghana, Mr. Loessner, the venue and design for the Centre was changed to Teshie near Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC).

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Governments of Ghana and Germany in January 2002 and the latter pledged 1.7 million Euros for the Centre.


 


VISION


 


Ghana?s vision for the Centre is as follows:


 


1        A Regional (ECOWAS) Centre of Excellence with high standards.


 


2        To develop into a world class education, training and research facility embracing all aspects of peace operations.


 


3        For training and study to cover an increasingly wide range of subjects involving participants from the full spectrum of military, security sector, diplomatic and non-governmental agencies likely to be involved in peace operations.


 


PERFORMANCE OF THE CENTRE

Mr. Speaker, recent appraisal of the state of development indicated that the Centre was doing rather well. The Centre has organized many successful programnmes since its commissioning. The KAIPTC has just completed its fifteenth programme on Monitoring of Elections, and has trained over 700 participants already. It is significant to note that the programmes have earned considerable international recognition.


 


FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM INTERNATIONAL

DONOR COUNTRIES


 


Mr. Speaker, the achievements of the Centre as mentioned would not have been possible without the support of some donor countries. The Centre has benefited from significant financial assistance principally from Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy and the Netherlands.

 

Mr. Speaker, permit me to take this opportunity to express the appreciation of the government and the people of Ghana to the Governments of UK, US, Netherlands, Italy, France and Canada, not only for their support but also for the resource persons released for training in the various disciplines. I wish to cite for special mention the immense assistance provided by the German Government, which to a large extent ensured a speedy completion of the administrative Block, Lecture blocks for directing staff and students modern Auditorium and other ancillary facilities.


 


CONTRIBUTION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GHANA


 


The Government of Ghana has made no direct financial contributions to the construction of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). However, whilst not involved in construction, the contribution of Government of Ghana includes the payment of staff salaries, telephone and electricity bills, as well as vehicles, consultancy services, legal and engineering support.

Question:??????????????????? Mr. Joseph Darko-Mensah (Okaikoi-North): To ask the Minister for Defence whether his Ministry?s negotiations with Messrs Well find Ltd. of the United Kingdom, Rosaboronexport and Kazan Helicopters, have been concluded favourable to enable the Ministry to acquire four (4) MI 17 Helicopters to support the Ghana Armed Forces Peacekeeping operations.


 

Response:???????????????? Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Ministry has successfully completed the negotiation with Messrs Well find of UK, Rosoboranexport and Kazan Helicopters of Russia, the manufacturers of MI-17 Russian Helicopters.? Currently Ghanaian pilots, flight engineers and technicians are being trained in Russia as part of that contract.


 


Training


 


The personnel had to go in batches for the following type conversion training:


 


a. First batch comprised 5 Maintenance Technicians. The Course which started from 23rd April 2004 to 4th July 2004 had been successfully completed.


 


b. Second batch of 2 Engineers, 4 pilots and one (1) Maintenance Technician are In Kazan, Russia. The Course commenced from 21st June and has just ended in September, 2004.


 


c. Third batch of 2 Engineers, and 5 Maintenance Technicians left Accra on 1st August, 2004 for Kazan for the period 21st August to late October, 2004.

d. Fourth batch of four pilots scheduled to depart Accra in mid-October to mid-December, 2004

MI-17 HELICOPTERS

The helicopters will be ready for shipment to Ghana by 10th November 2004. In this regard, an Air Force Technical Inspection Team is due to depart Accra by 1st November 2004 for the initial acceptance of the aircraft, at the factory in Kazan, Russia.