General News of Sunday, 27 June 2004

Source: GNA

Soldiers urged to remain loyal to the Constitution

Accra, June 27, GNA- Brigadier-General Joseph B. Danquah, General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Southern Command of the Ghana Army has appealed to service personnel to remain absolutely loyal to the Constitution.

He said " the military uniform did not place anybody above the established laws of the country, it would therefore, be wrong for anyone to consider he or herself outside the law and allocate to himself or herself the power to brutalise with impunity".

A statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces and signed by Lieutenant-Colonel Y. Dzotefe-Mensah said Brigadier-General Danquah made the appeal when reviewing a passing out parade of 343 recruits at the Army Recruit Training School at Shai Hills at the week-end.

The recruits included 54 women who underwent 24 weeks of basic military training to develop in them the requisites that would enable them function effectively as professional soldiers.

Recruit Warrant Officer One (WO I) Nana Osei Bomamoah was adjudged the overall best recruit, Recruit WOII, Emmanuel Oti Boateng was adjudged the best in drill.

The overall best female recruit went to Recruit Henrietta Owusu while the most determined recruit was Cynthia Tibambuya.

The statement said Brigadier-General Danquah cautioned service personnel to render selfless service and remain resolute in the defence of the nation and in the protection of all national interests.

He reminded the young soldiers that their individual and collective successes would be measured by the levels of integrity, loyalty, discipline and commitment displayed in the discharge of their duties. Brigadier-General Danquah said it was therefore, essential that the young soldiers adhere religiously to the code of ethics of the profession, differentiate between lawful and unlawful orders and keep away from any move that would threaten the political and economic basis of the country.