Accra, May 31, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Monday thanked the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for the significant role they played in the investiture of President Allasane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire at Yamoussoukro on May 21, 2011.

The GAF Central Band, under the command of the Lt. Col Francis Kwaku Ennin, and a Detachment of the 66 Artillery Regiment under the command of Corporal Samuel Yaw Essel participated in President Quattara's investiture.

President Mills expressed the appreciation during an interaction he requested with representatives of the two groups, which included Lt Col. Ennin; Corporal Janet Quadjie, Female Mivurette of the Band, and Corporal Essel, at the Castle, Osu on Monday. President Mills, who sat next to President Ouattara during the ceremony, said his sitting position at the ceremony was a signal to the whole world on the cooperation between the two sister nations. He said President Quattara expressed his appreciation for their participation and again when he met him at Abuja, Nigeria at the weekend during the swearing-in of President Goodluck Jonathan, 93he came to thank us for sending you there and gracing the occasion. "Your performance made us very proud. On behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, I say a very big thank you for your exceptional performance."

The President, who is also the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, upon the request of President Ouattara, directed the participation of the Central Band.

However, after finishing their assignment, the Ghana Air Force plane carrying them to Ghana could not weather the storm and had to go back to land in Yamoussoukro, after being airborne for close to two hours. They had to return home the next day.

President Mills announced that Ghana was in the process of acquiring two stronger personnel carrier aircraft from Brazil. Present at the meeting were Lt. Gen Joseph Henry Smith (rtd), Minister of Defence and Lt. Gen Augustine Blay, Chief of Defence Staff. In a related development, a delegation from Southern Sudan, led by the Minister of Health Mr Luka Tombekana delivered a special message from Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir inviting President Mills to attend the declaration of Southern Sudan as a republic on July 9, 2011. President Mills told the delegation that Ghana would be fully represented= ..