MORE HOUSING UNITS FOR SECURITY AGENCIES (PAGE 23, MAY 15, 2010)

THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, on Wednesday reiterated the government’s commitment to allocate the first batch of the 200,000 housing units to be constructed across the country between April this year and April 2015 to the security agencies.
He said the project, to be jointly funded by the government and the Korean Government, would solve the acute accommodation problems facing personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Police Service, the Prisons Service and others to boost their morale to discharge their duties more professionally.
Speaking at a send-off party for 82 retiring military officers and men at the Michel Camp, Tema, Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated that “the government will make the allocation of the first batch of the 200,000 housing units to the security agencies a priority in order to create a conducive environment for them and their families”.
The event was held for the military officers who had served the Ghana Army for 25 years and over. They will proceed on terminal leave on May 15, 2010 and eventually retire in November this year.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo noted that the invaluable contributions of the military to the peace and stability in the country over the years had made the nation enjoy an enviable democratic dispensation.
“Your commitment to the peace and democracy of our nation requires that the government provides you with a conducive environment that will motivate you to continue to discharge your duties professionally and co-operate with the government and the citizenry,” he stated.
He appealed to the retiring military officers to take advantage of the various government initiatives meant for farmers, such as the block farming, subsidised irrigation machines, fertilisers, weedicides and insecticides, to go into farming to enhance their living standards while they were on retirement.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo commended military personnel for the high professional skills they demonstrated in active service, adding, “Your professionalism has made our nation to be recognised in international peace-keeping.”
He appealed to the retiring security officers to put the experiences they had acquired at the disposal of the various cadet corps in tertiary and second-cycle institutions.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Infantry Battalion, Lt Col Barimah Brako Owusu, commended the retiring officers for their commitment and distinguished invaluable services to the Ghana Army over the past 25 years.
He advised them to refrain from any negative attitudes that could tarnish their reputation and that of the entire GAF, adding, “While on retirement, the Military Command would not want to hear of you being implicated in any criminal cases such as armed robbery.”
He appealed to the government to resource the military with the needed logistics to enhance the training of military personnel to enable them to execute their duties more professionally, both locally and internationally.