The CDS inspecting some of the equipment for the exercise
The Ministry of Defence has partnered Zoomlion Waste Management Company to disinfect all military facilities across the country with the aim of enhancing the safety of soldiers who act as frontline workers in enforcing safety protocols of citizens in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Targeted facilities, which included barracks, training schools, offices, mess and worship centres, are to undergo thorough disinfection using the World Health Organisation (WHO) approved chlorine solution within a one-week period, with effect from Monday, June 8, 2020.
Top hierarchy of the Military Command led by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa, hosted the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major Derek Oduro (rtd), as the special guest of honour to launch the exercise at Burma Camp in Accra.
In his remarks, the Deputy Minister highlighted the need to protect the armed forces from contracting the disease while they serve as frontrunners in implementing government directives on curbing the spread of the disease.
He, therefore, commended the personnel and said “it was heartwarming to know that your backyard is receiving the needed attention to keep you and your families safe.”
He, however, cautioned that the disinfection exercise alone cannot be the only solution to prevent the spread and for that reason urged personnel to continue to adhere to strict protocols by wearing face masks, observing social distancing and regularly using hand sanitizers.
“I’m optimistic that our collective effort will yield the needed results for our country to return to normalcy,” he said.
The CDS, Lt. Gen. Akwa, for his part, said the activities of the armed forces during the challenging period which included providing escorts to fumigation teams, enforcing a three-week lockdown and providing security at isolation centres indicate how committed the service is in terms of supporting government to curb diseases.
He reiterated the availability of the facilities of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and Ghanaians at large towards eliminating the disease.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the E&S Cluster of Jospong Group of Companies, Florence Larbi, speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Jospong Group, Joseph Siaw Agyapong, mentioned the readiness of the company to support Ghanaians to contain the disease, as it has discounted the rate of its services by 50 per cent.
By Issah Mohammed