Ghanaian soldiers are disciplined:
President praises them for non-involvement in scandalous acts
Isaac Essel and Kent Mensah | Posted: Tuesday, September 06, 2005
The Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President J. A. Kufuor has commended Ghanaian soldiers for exhibiting a high sense of discipline during peace keeping operations. He said their non-involvement in acts like sexual abuse, stealing and drug and human trafficking among others as being displayed by their colleagues from other countries, has raised the image of Ghana very high among the comity of nations.
President J. A. Kufuor was speaking last Friday at the graduation parade for Regular Career Course (RCC) 45 and Short Service Commission/Special Duties (SCC/SD) 44 at the Ghana Military Academy Training School in Accra. In all 76 officers were commissioned including five officers from Burkina Faso and Benin.
The President noted that "in recent times, there have been allegations of various scandalous acts involving United Nations peacekeepers. These allegations include stealing, sexual abuse, gun running and drug and human trafficking." Such acts do not only constitute human rights violations, but also have very serious and far-reaching consequences, he added.
He said, "As Commander-in-Chief, I am indeed proud to learn that so far no single Ghanaian soldier has been implicated in any of these scandals." He challenged the graduating officers to respect authority, be focused and emulate the high standard of discipline established by the Ghana Armed Forces.
President Kufuor assured them that the retooling of the Ghana armed forces would continue to remain a priority to enable personnel to perform their duties at optimum efficiency. He asked them to "trust this government, and let us work together to build a just, humane and prosperous nation for the benefit of us all."
He said the participation of some foreigners in the course should be seen as an important tool for sub-regional integration, which is in a period of reconstruction.
He said "civil wars, conflicts and political instability in the sub-region are giving way to peace and reconstruction…It is hoped that those who are yet to move into the normalcy of constitutional rule will follow suit, so that in the foreseeable future, the entire region will come to share in the common values of good governance and social and economic evolution."
President Kufour attributed the socio-political evolution in the sub-region to positive dialogue, hard work and goodwill on the part of many individuals, groups and organizations within and outside the sub-region.
He announced that medical reception stations in all garrisons in the country are to be modernized and raised to the level of district hospitals. He said these hospitals would render services to both the civilians and the military. He presented the officers with their commissions.
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