Accra (Greater Accra) 16 June '99

The Armed Forces Council (AFC) on Tuesday held its maiden meeting at Burma Camp in Accra to discuss general administrative matters and pertinent issues relating to the Forces.

Vice-President John Atta Mills presided over the closed door meeting. It was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of Brigadier Hubert Duah Twum-Barimah (rtd), a member of the previous AFC and former Chief of Defence Staff, who died on May 13, this year.

In attendance was Brigadier C.A. Okae, Chief of Staff at General Headquarters.

The Constitution provides for the setting up of an Armed Forces Council whose membership includes the ministers of defence, foreign affairs and the interior, Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, forces sergeant-major and two other persons appointed by the president.

The council shall advise the President on matters of policy relating to defence and strategy, including the role of the forces, military budgeting and finance, administration and the promotion of high-ranking officers.