GAF needs C67bn to discharge over-aged soldiers

Accra, Dec. 12, GNA - The Ministry of Defence would need 67 billion cedis in 2007 to enable it to discharge over-aged soldiers from the Military.

If the necessary steps are not taken to fund the release of these soldiers, this amount is expected to rise to 91 billion cedis in 2008, due to increases in salaries, the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior said in a report on Tuesday.

The report was presented to Parliament after a motion was moved to approve 1.1 trillion cedis as budgetary allocation for the Defence Ministry.

The Committee said it has since 2003, been recommending to the Government to make resources available to discharge the over-aged soldiers but the problem seemed to be compounding every year. It said it was informed that if these soldiers were discharged, 600 units of residential accommodation would be available for use. Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Defence Minister, who earlier moved the motion, said when the old soldiers were discharged it would enable the Ministry to recruit fresh blood and help to reduce the accommodation problem.

The House also approved 15.5 billion cedis for the Aviation Ministry.

Mr Samuel Obodai, Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Transport, who seconded a motion for the approval, said the Government should ensure that the special service vote of 351 billion cedis was granted to the Aviation Ministry to enable it to meet the challenges confronting the official liquidator of Ghana Airways.

He asked that additional funds be made available to the Ministry to resuscitate the aviation industry.

The House later approved 758.5 billion cedis and 74.4 billion cedis for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiative and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, respectively.