President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday swore into office Mrs Florence Aleeno Sai, as a member of the Ghana Armed Forces Council, at the Castle, Osu. Mrs Sai, 73, a Home Economics and Nutrition Consultant swore the official oath and the oath of secrecy administered by President Kufuor.

She was the 10th of the 11-member Council sworn into office at the Burma Camp on Friday, August 31, last year.

Nine out of the 11 took the oath at last year's swearing ceremony. The Council, to advise the government on policies and administration of the military establishment, has Vice-President Aliu Mahama as its chairman. Other members are Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Interior Minister.

The rest are Major-General Seth K. Obeng, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier C.D. Yaache, Army Commander, Rear Admiral J.K. Gbenah, Chief of Naval Staff, Air Commodore E.A. Mantey, Chief of Air Staff and Chief Warrant Officer James Cole, Forces Sergeant Major.

President Kufuor said by law he is the Chairman of the Council but that he had asked Vice-President Mahama to take up that position. He would, however, attend its meetings from time to time.

President Kufuor said the government had confidence in Mrs Sai to contribute her experience on the deliberations of the Council. Mrs Sai thanked the government for the confidence reposed in her and pledged to contribute her quota to the development of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

In another development, President Kufuor also swore-in Professor Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, a lecturer of the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) as a member of the Civil Service Council, which had also been inaugurated earlier.

President Kufuor urged Professor Adu-Gyamfi to put his knowledge and experience at the disposal of the other members who were also competent and experienced professionals in their various fields. Professor Adu-Gyamfi said it was an onerous task but pledged to put up his maximum to improve on the work of the Service, a major vehicle for the success of the government's Golden Age of Business.