Two hundred soldiers, 28 officers and 172 men, of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Thursday left Accra for a six-month peacekeeping duty with the United Nations Monitoring Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).

The number represents the first batch of soldiers of Ghana Battalion Two (GHANBATT 2) to replace Ghanbatt One, which has completed their duty and are expected back home soon. The second batch of 203 soldiers will leave next week, bringing the number of Ghanbatt 2 to 403. The Mortar Regiment of the GAF at Ho in the Volta Region forms the nucleus of Ghanbatt 2. Addressing the soldiers before they enplaned for Congo, General Officer Commanding the Southern Command of the GAF, Brigadier Joseph Boakye Danquah told them to approach their duties in the mission area with professionalism, dedication and a high sense of discipline, which had earned Ghana a global reputation in peacekeeping.

"You must endeavour to demonstrate your good skills, knowledge and experience in peacekeeping, in order to bring honour and glory to yourselves, the Ghana Armed Forces and the nation as a whole." Brig Danquah implored the soldiers to discern between the good and the bad since they would be exposed to different people, conditions and influences and to bring back only those experiences that would be of benefit to them and the nation.

He enjoined the peacekeepers to abide by all MONUC operational, administrative and security regulations and charged Officers, Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers to ensure that discipline was not only maintained, but enforced at all times.

"You will accomplish your mission successfully in the DRC, if only all of you maintained very high standards of discipline within your ranks and also based your activities on a sound teamwork." The Brigadier advised the soldiers not to misuse their earnings in the mission area but to repatriate their money back home to put it to profitable use for their benefit and that of their families.

He also advised them to remain faithful to their partners, avoid "unnecessary" risk and to give value to their lives, referring particularly to the HIV/AIDS menace. MONUC Ghanbatt 2, which underwent a three-week pre-operational at Bundase in the Greater Accra Region, is under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Akofur, the Commanding Officer of the Mortar Regiment.