Accra, Nov. 20, GNA - Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, Minister of Defence, on Thursday said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has since 2000 pursued a policy of limiting the engagement of the Military in civil duties.

"This policy is still holding," the Minister said, in Parliament in response to a question from Mr Stephen Amoanor Kwao, NDC Upper Manya Krobo.

Mr Kwao had sought to know from the Minister what immediate actions the Defence Ministry was taking to check the frequent harassment of traders and fishermen on the Volta Lake and Akateng market by some soldiers from the Afram Plains District.

The Minister said information available indicated that the Afram Plains did not have a well-patronised market centre for their produce.

Therefore, farm produce and fish from the Afram Plains were sent to Dzemeni and Akateng markets in the Manya Krobo District for sale.

"Due to the scattered nature of the islands and the attitude of some of the locals, the Afram Plains Districts Assembly has difficulty in the collection of taxes.

"Consequently, the Assembly formed a Taskforce comprising of the Military, who were there on "Operation COWLEG" duties, Police and the Internal Revenue employees, to ensure effective collection of taxes," Dr Addo Kufuor said.

He explained that in the course of the performance of duties related to the tax collection, allegations of extortions of monies from traders in Akateng market and from boat owners as well as allegations of molestations of locals were levelled against the soldiers.

"It has been realised that the involvement of the Military in certain civil duties expose them to some vices and it is possible that the assistance in the collection of taxes might have unduly exposed them", the Minister said.

Dr Addo Kufuor said actions including the withdrawal and replacement of the troops have been taken to solve the problems in the Akateng market.

He said directives have been given to the troops to stick to their original deployment duties, that is, "Operation COWLEG", which involves the protection of the citizens from the harassment and criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen in the area.

Mr Kwao in a supplementary question asked if victims of the activities of the soldiers would be compensated but the Minister said if there were any injuries and deformities suffered by the locals they should petition the Ministry of Defence.

Mrs Edith Haizel, NDC Evalue-Gwira, asked if the manning of barriers by soldiers, a civilian duty, did not unduly expose them to vices. The Minister said activities such as anti-armed robbery and chainsaw activities could easily corrupt soldiers and, therefore, such duties were often minimised among the troops and there was frequent change of troops involved in such duties.

Ms Akua Dansua, NDC North-Dayi, asked if locals of the Akateng market have been informed of the withdrawal of soldiers from tax collection duties and the Minister said steps had been taken to bring everything under control since tax collection in the area was not part of the original duty assigned them but it was a local arrangement by the District Assembly.

In another development, Mr Jake Obestebi- Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, told Parliament that modern hotels, communication networks and decent sanitation facilities would be provided in the La-Dadekotopon Constituency as part of plans to modernise the Capital City, Accra.

The Minister was in Parliament to answer an urgent question from Mr Godfried Ako-Nai, NPP Dadekotopon, as to what modernisation plans the Ministry had for the area.

Mr Ako-Nai in a supplementary question asked if the Ministry would consider upgrading the Sergeant Adjetey Square into a modern tourist site. The Minister said the Ministry would welcome any suggestions on modernising the area.

Mr Obestebi-Lamptey said funds for the improvement of the area would be from various sources including the Ministry, Ministry of Local Government, Town and Country Planning and private sources.

Alhaji Ali Amadu, NDC Atebubu South, wanted to find out if the chiefs and people of La-Dadekotopon were involved in the development programmes for the area. The Minister said they were very much involved and that communication channels had been established to link them up.