President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo says the deficit of equipment in the Helicopter Squadron of the Ghana Air Force is being addressed through the overhauling of major operational choppers.
He made the disclosure when he attended the durbar of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at Burma Camp in Accra last Friday.
He said “in respect to the Air Force, two of the MI M1 17 helicopters have been sent for overhauling. One has returned and the other will be in the jurisdiction shortly.”
The president added that “funds have been released to extend the flying hours of the third helicopter. When we took office three of the aircraft had broken down.”
He said “we have fixed one of them and two have been sent out of the country for overhauling. One is due back in the country in April and the other will be in October.”
The president said “before the commencement of this durbar, I fulfilled a pledge I made at October 2018 graduation ceremony of officer cadet of the Ghana Armed Forces by presenting 50 Echai Buses and 50 Toyota pickups and 40 Toyota Land Cruisers, which formed part of the first tranche of 138 staff and operational vehicles of various categories to the Armed Forces.”
He said, “I also commissioned the newly constructed command officers mess, a project started by previous administration and completed under the current leadership of the ministry and military high command.”
“In all of these, my government has stayed true to its commitment to the Ghana Armed Forces. One of my first acts as president was to increase UN peacekeeping compensation allowance from $30 to $35 per soldier per day. “We also cleared the outstanding arrears of $13 million for all peace-keeping personnel and ensured that contingents in the Gambia were paid all allowances in full.”
He said the government also settled 11.1% of arrears due the civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence.
“With effect from January 2018, we have ensured a 10% upward salary review for all personnel.”
“The completion of the third phase of the 37 Military Hospital is receiving due attention. “We will complete and commission a 50-bed military hospital in the Ashanti Region and begin the third phase of this project soon.”
Military & Politics
According to the President, “It’s in everybody’s interest that the Armed Forces retains the neutrality and professionalism guaranteed under the constitution; governments have term limits and in a multiparty democracy, parties win and lose power. It’s good for the health of the nation that this is so.”
He said “this is why the Armed Forces should not tie its wellbeing with the fortunes of the ruling party of the day. Together we must ensure that Ghana Armed Forces is left to focus on its core mandate and not be an appendix of the ruling party.”
By Issah Mohammed