President Mahama promises more equipment for military

President John Dramani Mahama, on Thursday announced that government would provide 300 million dollars for the acquisition and provision of military equipment to empower them to carry out their mandate.

He said the development and growth of the country hinged on the equipment of the military to protect the country and represent Ghana in international operations, and it was therefore not out of place to invest heavily in the provision of such equipment.

The President announced this when he commissioned a new hangar and named two other rehabilitated ones at the Air Force base at Burma Camp.

The new hangar is named after John Asamoah Bruce, while the other two are named after John Odaate Barnor and James Ernest Akrong Kotei, all retired influential military officers.

The three honoured retired officers distinguished themselves as Generals during their active service in the Ghana Armed Forces, which necessitated the naming of the three hangars after them.

The facility, which has fire fighting facilities, Ambulance service, servicing and maintenance facilities, would also protect the aircraft and other equipment from the vagaries of the weather.

President Mahama used the occasion to commend the Brazilian government for supporting the government of Ghana, to execute some socio-economic projects in the country.

He said apart from the construction of the hangars in Accra, Takoradi and Tamale, the Brazilian government was also supporting Ghana to construct the Tamale international Airport, and the establishment of the Flight Training School in Tamale.

President Mahama also announced that the Brazilian government was also instrumental in the construction of the Kwame Nkrumah circle interchange, and would support the construction of the Kasoa interchange and the Kumasi central Market complex, among others.

The President gave the assurance that more aircraft would be procured by the close of 2015, to beef up the fleet of the Ghana Air Force, to carry out their duties both within and outside the country.

He said personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces had distinguished themselves creditably in the international sphere, and urged them to step up their activities to maintain the reputation they had earned over the years.

Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, Minister of Defence, said the provision of the hangars was in fulfilment of government's determination to adequately equip the Ghana Armed Forces to carry out their constitutional mandate in the country, and to contribute to international peace-keeping operations.

"The trend of military procurement is to strengthen them to protect the people of Ghana and support other international operations.

Air Marshall Samson Oje, Chief of Air Staff, said the construction of the hangars would not only ensure safety and security of aircraft at the base, but with a maintenance and servicing centre, would accelerate technology transfer to other officers.

He promised that his outfit would maintain and make judicious use of the facility for the benefit of all Ghanaians.