Accra, March 11, GNA- Defence Minister Kwame Addo-Kufuor on Thursday reiterated government's commitment to equip, modernize and maintain the Armed Forces for a more efficient service in safeguarding and upholding the sovereignty of the nation. This commitment, he said, had not only manifested in efforts to uplift professional capabilities, but projects aimed at improving the welfare and living conditions of troops.

Dr. Addo-Kufuor said this when he and the visiting Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce, Mr. Wei Jianguo jointly commissioned a new Chinese-built military/police barracks at Burma Camp in Accra. The Barracks, christened "China Town", consist of modern accommodation units, built from a Chinese loan facility of 3.8 million dollars.

It comprises three blocks of 28 units and two blocks of 12 units. The three blocks of 28 units comprise 84 single quartered-rooms and the two blocks of 12 units each comprises 24 two-bedroom apartments for non-commissioned officers.

The project also includes water storage and pumping facility. Dr. Addo-Kufuor said the Ministry was placing emphasis on the rehabilitation and construction of new barracks and other facilities in military garrisons across the country to improve the welfare and the living conditions of troops to further boost their morale, a vital ingredient in any military organization.

He said the welfare of the military and civilian employees of the ministry was of great importance to government, hence the investment in residential accommodation for them.

The Minister underscored the determined effort made at the highest levels in China and Ghana, to improve bilateral relations between both countries.

He said apart from cooperation in defence matters, the People's Republic of China was an important development partner in the fields of agriculture, health, road construction, railways, telecommunication and infrastructure.

Dr. Addo-Kufuor said technical assistance from China, under various bilateral agreements, had helped augment the provision of equipment in the Ghana Armed Forces as well as other sectors of the economy. He expressed appreciation to China for what he termed "excellent show of friendship", and called on Ghanaian engineers, builders and other professionals who worked with the Chinese team on the project to imitate their excellent work ethics and seek to acquire their technology.

Mr Wei Jianguo said China's assistance for the project signified that country's bid to strengthen bilateral relations with Ghana. He said China was willing to help Ghana to develop, particularly in the areas of trade, commerce and economics.

He pledged China's continued support for future projects by the Ghana Armed Forces.

China has recently offered its support in terms of grants and loans to the Ghana Armed Forces for some of its major projects and hardware acquisition.

Apart from the barracks project, the Chinese government is to fund the construction of the proposed new Ministry of Defence block due to take off later this year. It is estimated that the project would cost about three million dollars.

The Chinese government is making available a grant of 1.25 million dollars towards that project.

Addtionally China last Monday made available a military assistance grant of 10 million Chinese Yuan to the GAF to help mitigate the service's mobility problems.

The grant would be used to purchase vehicles to beef up GAF's transportation needs as well as peacekeeping operations.

Projects aimed at improving living conditions in the barracks and the general working environment of the GAF have been on-going. Most have been completed, while the rest are at appreciable levels of completion.