The Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Regiment, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, has pledged the commitment of the regiment to protecting constitutional rule in the country.

"We are not a coup-making regiment, neither was the unit established to perpetuate the rule of any one person but to ensure stability at all times and act as a rapid deployment force in emergencies," he said.

Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey gave the assurance when the Minister of Defence-designate, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, made a familiarisation visit to the unit as part of a visit to the Ministry of Defence to interact with the top hierarchy of the Ghana Armed Forces on behalf of the President, Mr J. A. Kufuor yesterday.

"We are clear in our mission and the task assigned to us and we will continue to perform those duties to ensure stability in the country at all times," the Commanding Officer stressed. Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey, therefore, asked the Minister-designate to reassure the President of the loyalty of the unit to the government to enable it implement its noble programmes for Ghanaians.

He used the occasion to highlight the accommodation and other logistic problems facing the unit. He said as a result of accommodation problems, some personnel of the unit stay outside the barracks.

Dr Addo-Kufuor on his part, pledged the commitment of the government to improving living and other conditions for personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces to enable them continue with their good work. He said the government, therefore, expects total loyalty and commitment from the Ghana Armed Forces so that it will concentrate on career and welfare issues of the personnel.

Earlier in the day, Dr Addo-Kufuor, who was accompanied by the National Security Advisor, General Joshua Hamidu, had called on the top military hierarchy at the Ministry of Defence. They were received by Lt. Gen. Ben Akafia, Chief of Defence Staff and supported by the Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Joseph Smith, Air Marshall, J. A. Bruce and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral E. O. Owusu-Ansah. Dr Addo-Kufuor said the NPP Government is proud of the achievements of the GAF in peace-keeping operations and other duties.

He said when his appointment is approved by Parliament, he will strive to work with the top hierarchy to improve upon the relations between the military and civil society. He said he will work with them to design and develop training programmes for personnel of the GAF to improve upon their duties as well as work to supply critical equipment needed by them for protecting the country's territorial borders.

Dr Addo-Kufuor, however, said in view of serious budgetary constraints, he will discuss with the personnel on ways of undertaking income-generating ventures to enable them to raise funds for other purposes which the budget cannot contain. He also asked the Chief of Defence Staff to put on ice any transfers or settlement proposals for soldiers until a substantive Minister is appointed so that the issues could be critically assessed.