Accra, Feb. 20, GNA - The Lebanese Community in Ghana on Monday donated a Kia Pregio ambulance valued at 35,000 dollars to the Ministry of Defence to augment the fleet of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the 37 Military Hospital.

The ERU currently has 13 ambulances, two Air Force helicopters and about 900 cadet corps drawn from various schools to attend to national emergencies.

Defence Minister Kwame Addo-Kufuor, who received the keys to the ambulance at the Burma Camp in Accra, expressed appreciation to the Community.

He said the relationship between Ghana and Lebanon had been a long-standing one, citing the deployment of Ghanaian troops to keep peace in Lebanon since 1982.

Dr Addo-Kufuor said the donation was a timely step in helping the hospital to cope with emergencies.

He appealed to the Community to assist the Hospital train the 900 cadets of the ERU.

Mr Saied Fakhry, President of the Lebanese Community, who made the donation on behalf of the Community, said it had over the years been assisting the MOD in its bid to upgrade its facilities. He said the donation formed part of the Community's social responsibility and that they had other plans to help the 37 Military Hospital to upgrade its facilities.

The Community, five years ago, rehabilitated and adopted the Cedar Ward at the Hospital. It also donated 50 computers towards the establishment of the Burma Camp Computer Centre. The Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Lt. Gen. J.B. Danquah; Brig. Gen. Daniel Aryeetey, Director of Medical Services of the GAF, and some senior military officers were present.