Govt committed to improved capacity of armed forces

Accra, Aug. 6, GNA - Defence Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah on Monday reiterated government's continued commitment to improve the capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to effectively handle security threats in the country, the sub-region and in international spheres.

However, this would broadly depend on the assistance, particularly in the areas of training and logistics, of bilateral partners like the United States to achieve this aim, he told the visiting Deputy Commander of the US European Command, General William Ward when he called at Burma Camp in Accra.

Gen. Ward, who is on a three-day visit to Ghana, is in the country to bolster existing ties and possibly explore other areas of cooperation between the armed forces of both countries.

Mr. Kan-Dapaah, who was performing his first official function as he took over from Dr Addo-Kufuor on Monday, told Gen. Ward that Ghana was bent on consolidating the progress made in governance and economic development.

He said what could derail the progress was the lack of peace and security, adding, "We need to strengthen the capacity of our security agencies to keep the nation on course".

"It is important to maintain the peace the country is currently enjoying. Our country certainly has the ability to maintain peace. But this should be improved because improvements come with development", he said.

The Minister congratulated Gen. Ward for his nomination as the Commander of the US African Command (AFRICOM), adding that AFRICOM would give the US a better opportunity to assist the GAF in its quest to enhance its capacity.

He expressed appreciation to the US government for its unflinching support to the GAF, saying, "We look forward to increased cooperation in future".

Gen. Ward told the Minister that he was in the country to reaffirm relations between both countries and their militaries, and to seek areas of partnerships.

He commended the GAF for its role in maintaining peace in Africa and elsewhere, saying, "Ghana is an important country on the African continent and we need to be partners to move it (Africa) forward". Gen Ward had earlier called on the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. Gen. J.B. Danquah, where he also pledged his country's support to work with Ghana and the GAF to promote ideas for sustainable growth and security.

The CDS also expressed gratitude to the US government for the support to the GAF in the areas of training to enhance its capacity to deal with challenges.

He noted however that the discovery of oil in the country posed new challenges to the GAF and there was the need to find ways to deal with them as they evolved.

To this end, he asked the US to lend its support to the GAF in the areas of logistics, particularly the refitting of the Ghana Navy's ailing ships, to enable them police the country's waters effectively.