Defence Minister calls for more British support

Accra May 6, GNA - Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Minister of Defence on Thursday called for 'a little more' support from the British Government to enable Ghana to enhance her peacekeeping operations in the West African Sub-Region.

He said: "Ghana is involved in peacekeeping and we need ammunition, medical equipment, safety gadgets and other facilities to enable the men to work well".

Dr Addo-Kufuor said this when the British High Commissioner, Mr Gordon Wetherell held bilateral talks on the growing relationship between Ghana and Britain at his office at the Burma Camp.

The Minister said peace keeping was an expensive business because the men needed to have their own food, medical equipment and other things to keep them focused.

Dr Kufuor said he appreciated the help by the British Government in terms of budgetary support, education and other areas of concern for the country but said "there could be more for the Armed Forces". He said Ghana had used her own money to support peacekeeping in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire before getting support from other countries. Dr Addo-Kufuor commended the new initiative by Mr Blair, which sought to focus British attention more on Africa.

He said Africa's problems could be tackled properly when specific countries were targeted, explaining, "most Europeans see Africa as one big country and so if there was a problem in Ethiopia, they think it is a problem in Ghana as well".

Mr Gordon Wetherell commended the good cooperation between Ghana and Britain and referred to the recent visit by President Kufuor to Britain as very useful.

He also commended the Ghana Armed Forces for the good work they were doing.

Mr Wetherell said: "Ghana Armed Forces have a very high reputation, with records in peacekeeping and experience in the Sub-Region". He said the British Government was pleased to be working with the Ghana Armed Forces.