Members of Ghana Armed Forces Council take office

Members of the newly-constituted Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Council have been sworn into office, with a call on them to work to strengthen protecting Ghana’s territorial integrity and the oil fields.

President John Dramani Mahama, who administered the oaths of allegiance, office and secrecy to the members of the Council at the Flagstaff House in Accra asked the members to focus on how to support efforts at fighting armed robbery, drug trafficking, illegal mining and logging, armed smuggling and piracy.

The 12-member GAF Council is chaired by the Vice-President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur with the Minister of Defence, Mr Mark Woyongo; the Minister of the Interior; Mr Kwesi Ahwoi and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Hanna Tetteh.

Others are the Chief of the Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Mathew Quashie; the Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier General Richard Opoku Adusei; the Chief of Naval Staff, Commodore G.M. Biekoro and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall M. Samson Oje.

The rest of the members are Forces Sergeant Major C.W.O.D. Adu Yaw; Rear Admiral J. Yanful Adoko; Col (Retd.) Sally Odoi Gyampo (government appointee) and the Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Tackie Yarboi.

Members of the GAF Council are mandated by the 1992 Constitution to advise the President on matters of policy on defence and security.

President Mahama said members of GAF Council “have what it takes” to offer him the needed advice on how to improve security and safety of the people.

He charged the members to enforce discipline in the service, saying that no Armed Forces could succeed without discipline.

Besides, he said, the security should also focus on supporting government’s programmes in providing healthcare, education and food to the people.

The President gave the assurance that the government would continue to equip the GAF with modern equipment to facilitate the work of the army.

He said in the past, funding for the military was reduced, and indicated “with the recent security threats, the best defence is to be vigilant and prepared.”

President Mahama lauded the military for their smart display during the March 6, 2013 independence parade.

Again, he said, the open-day event organised by the military for civilians to visit military installations was a positive move towards promoting military-civilian relations.

Source: Daily Graphic