Akroso, (E/R) July 5, GNA - Major General Amadu Abdulai, Commandant of the Military Academy and Training School (MATS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Tuesday called on the security forces to guard Ghana's chosen form of democratic governance, which has so far gone well, because its success depended on them.

"We as security service personnel should do all in our power to protect and defend our fledgling democracy," he said. Maj Gen. Abdulai was speaking at the opening of a four-day jungle survival exercise for the various arms of the GAF at Akroso in the Birim South District of the Eastern Region.

The exercise, code named, Exercise Tiger's Path 05, is a bi-annual tri-service patrol and counter insurgency and jungle warfare exercise organised on a competitive basis in the general area of Akim Achiase. The exercise, which forms part of the training activities for the 2004/2005 training year of the GAF, will involve platoon size teams drawn from the Army formations-Support Services, Southern and Northern command, Navy and the Air Force.

It is aimed at testing a cross-section of the GAF in jungle craft and skills, leadership and endurance abilities, and to enhance inter-arm service co-operation and espirt-de-corps among troops.

Participants would be tested in navigation, search and rescue, offensive tactical operations, obstacle crossing and marksmanship. They would also be tested in first aid skills in jungle setting. A total of 85 officers and 261 men are taking part in the exercise.

Maj. Gen. Abdulai, who is also the director for the exercise noted that national development, socio-economic growth and prosperity, the world over was dependent on a stable and peaceful environment. He called the attention of the participants and those invited for the opening of the exercise to the numerous conflicts situations in the sub-region and the threats these conflicts pose to Ghana's security and sovereignty.

"There is a need to sharpen our professionalism to be able to deal with these threats.

"Indeed, it is imperative that we remain poised and focused if we are to continue to enjoy the accolade of oasis of peace in the sea of turmoil within the West African Sub-Region," he told the participants. Maj. Gen. Abdulai said that even though the exercise scenario was imaginary, it was a realistic assessment of the threat perception of the country, and called on the participants to react to it as if was real, for the relevant lessons to be learnt.

He told the participants that the GAF was fortunate to have jungle training facilities that could measure up to international standards, a facility that other not so endowed countries travel great distances to use.

He exhorted the participants to utilise the opportunity to train to be in top condition to perform creditably when called upon to ensure stability, both in Ghana and abroad.

Maj. Gen. Abdulai cautioned the competing teams to avoid subjecting the environment and civilian property to destructive acts. The competing teams were later deployed at various points at Akroso.