The Defence Ministries of Ghana and India have decided to intensify the existing levels of cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Towards this end, a team of medical consultants from India would be seconded to Ghana to study the equipment and facilities at the 37 Military Hospital with a view to making recommendations for their upgrading.

Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor made these announcements in London after attending the Fifth International Aerospace Exposition- Aero India 2005 held at the Air force station, at Yelahanka in Bangalore, India. He was accompanied on the visit by Mr. F.O Mpare, Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence and Brigadier-General F.K. Mensah Yawson, Defence Adviser, Ghana High Commission in New Delhi

While on the visit, which was at the invitation of the India Ministry of Defence and the Government of India, Dr. Addo Kufuor visited two hospitals, the Apollo Hospital and the Army Research and Referral Hospital and a number of military establishments. He also held discussions with the British Minister of Defence and his Peruvian counterpart on ways of collaborating in defence matters with the two countries.

Dr. Addo-Kufuor further disclosed that the India Medical Association, with a total membership of 155,000 doctors, had expressed the intention to set up a medical School in Ghana which may be sited in one of three hospital located at Cape Coast, Sunyani and Ho

Dr Kufuor said the operational expenses of the project would be entirely funded by the Association while the Ghana Government would provide the required infrastructure. He revealed that 30-40% of the intake at the school would be allocated to Ghanaians who would not be required to pay fees for their training and said products of the school could practise in India, Britain and other parts of the world.

He said he was looking forward to the establishment of the school which would augment the training of Ghanaians desirous of taking up medicine as a profession.

Speaking during discussions with his Indian counterpart, Dr. Addo Kufuor commended the high standard of proficiency displayed by the India Air force pilots at the Aerospace India 2005. He expressed gratitude to the India Government for the various training programmes that had been extended to the Ghana Ministry of Defence.

In his remarks, the India Minister of Defence underscored the importance of collaboration between the two countries since both countries shared common historical ties and had adhered to democratic principles of governance.