Government has entered into an agreement with Elbit Systems Land Limited of Israel for the supply of armoured vehicles and ammunition to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to prepare for any “agitations” in the face of current threat of terrorism and other land border threats from neighbouring countries, particularly from the Sahel region.
According to government, armoured vehicles play a vital role in the work of the army and in recent times heavily armoured vehicles particularly 6×6 and 8×8 armoured vehicles are used by the army for land operations, as they are suitable for all terrains.
Unfortunately, these vehicles are in very short supply, thereby hampering smooth operations of the GAF.
To make the GAF prepare for any eventuality and work effectively in internal security operations with other sister security services, government has been compelled to contract an amount of US$86,120,000 to finance the purchase of the armoured vehicles for the GAF.
The supply of the armoured vehicles is to be financed from the Israel Discount Bank and made up of US$74,120,000 ASHRA facility and a commercial loan of US$12,000,000.
Parliament yesterday approved of the two agreements for the total amount of US$86,120,000 as well as the contract agreement between government and Elbit Systems Land Limited of Israel to finance the purchase of the armoured vehicles.
The agreements were presented to the House on Monday, August 3, 2020 by the Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, and the requests were referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
Background
The GAF has been primarily responsible for the defence of the state as enshrined in Article 210(3) of the 1992 Constitution, the government stated.
It said, additionally, the GAF is also involved in internal security operations with other sister security services for the safety of the general public.
Such operations, it added, include Operation Gong-Gong which is geared towards maintaining peace in the northern part of the country, Operation Clam Life at Donkorkyina in the Bono Region, which seeks to curb incidents of armed robbery and other violent crimes, and Exercise Ogbangame Express which seeks to fight maritime crimes in Ghana’s territorial waters.
The government indicated that more recently, GAF personnel were also tasked to support the police and National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Operation Covid-19 Safety to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
In addition to its traditional roles, the GAF has carved an enviable reputation for itself and the country as global peacekeepers. This is evident by the number of GAF personnel posted at various United Nations peacekeeping theatres around the world.
The Chairman of the Finance Committee, Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah, said GAF had over the years performed supportive roles towards the political, social and economic spheres of national development.
“The Ghana Army is the main ground warfare organizational branch of the military with the mandate of defending the land borders of the country against any threats. Over the years, several governments have tried to ensure that the military in general is well equipped to protect the state against internal and external aggression,” he pointed out.
Presenting a report to the House yesterday, he noted that despite these measures, most of the equipment of the GAF are obsolete and need to be replaced.
“The government is, therefore, keen on equipping the military with modern equipment in the desired quantities to ensure that the military is adequately resourced to work effectively,” he said.
Observations
According to him, the Finance Committee observed that the GAF requires these modem and sophisticated equipment to help them undertake the operations and maintain security in the country.
“The committee observed that the last time any of these armoured vehicles were purchased was over 10 years ago. Attempts to acquire more armoured vehicles to augment the existing fleet of the GAF and to replace obsolete ones have failed due to the cost of purchase, maintenance and training for their use,” he added.
The equipment to be supplied are nine quantities of IFV 8X8, including communication package; nine quantities of IFV 8X8 UT-3O; nine quantities of communication package and BMS, 5,000 quantities of ammunition 30mm, among others.
Use of Vehicles
Dr. Assibey-Yeboah said the committee was told the armoured vehicles would be used for peacekeeping operations when required but they would primarily be deployed to support internal security operations.
The committee was informed that the army had long promulgated the establishment of 154 and 155 Armoured Regiments in Sunyani and Tamale respectively to expand the military’s capabilities of dealing with contemporary national threats.
“Unfortunately, the army has been unable to do so due to lack of requisite logistics including armoured equipment,” he said.
In May 2020, though, the GAF established the 154 Regiment and a Training School in Sunyani with some 4X4 Otokar vehicles they recently acquired. Despite the Otokar vehicles, the regiment is still under resourced.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House