Accra, June 13, GNA - The German Government on Friday handed over a GH¢420,000 disaster Management Centre to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), a statement issued by the Armed Forces Public Relations Directorate said.

The facility, consisting of an office and two training blocks, and sited at the Engineer Training School (ETS), Wajir Barracks at Teshie near Accra, is expected to facilitate training of military engineers and other troops for deployment on disaster management duties.

Mrs. Jana Orlowski, Deputy German Ambassador to Ghana, who did the hand-over said the management of natural disasters was a task for the whole public, emphasizing that the military being in the forefront of disaster management therefore needed to be well equipped to effectively support the public whenever disaster struck.

Mrs. Orlowski, according to the statement, explained that the Centre would allow for simultaneous training in all categories of modern disaster management services such as masonry work, concrete construction, plumbing, carpentry and electronic work. She said that the combined training would enable engineers of the Ghana Armed Forces to repair infrastructure which would be damaged should disaster strike.

The Deputy Ambassador disclosed that the German Military Advisory group in Ghana was working on the renovation and refurbishment of the Arakan Barracks and the Artillery Regiment Medical Reception Stations at Burma Camp and Ho respectively at a cost of about GH¢ 260,000. Deputy Defence Minister, Mr. William Ofori Boafo, advised personnel of the ETS to make the best of the facility and to ensure they took good care of the equipment provided.

He expressed gratitude to the German Government for their continued support to the GAF and hoped the cordial relationship that exists would be strengthened.

Col. Hubert Muckel, leader of a delegation from the German Federal Ministry of Defence said Germany would support the GAF set up an engineer unit that would be sufficient for GAF's ECOWAS Standby Force component.

He observed that the task ahead required even closer co-operation and detailed co-ordination between the two Armed Forces and expressed the continue commitment of the German government to assisting the GAF to build its capacity.

Those present included, Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen. J.B. Danquah, Service Chiefs, the Commandant of the Military Academy and Training School Major General Amadu Abdulai, Senior Officers of Ghana Armed Forces and Staff of both the Ministry of Defence and the German Embassy.