Accra, July 16, GNA - The Chief of Staff, General Headquarters, Commodore G. M. Biekro, has urged personnel of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT GHANBATT I) to work hard to preserve the good image of the Ghana Armed Forces. He said personnel of MINURCAT GH1 have performed well in spite of austere and challenging conditions they found themselves. A statement signed by Flying Officer R. Omane-Agyei said Commodore Biekro, who led a military delegation to Chad to familiarize himself with the operational activities of the Ghanaian soldiers, was addressing a durbar of troops at the Ghanbatt headquarters to update them on current developments in Ghana as well as in the Ghana Armed Forces. Other members of the delegation were Colonel Pascal Hatse, Deputy Director, International Peace Support Operations, Lt. Colonel Francis Ofori, Deputy Director, Army Peacekeeping Operations and Chief Warrant Officer Yaw Adu, Forces Sergeant Major (FSM).

Commodore Biekro spoke about efforts being made by the government to improve the logistics state of the Ghana Armed Forces to enable personnel play their role as professional soldiers. He said the GAF had acquired ambulances, fork lifts, light cargo axle trailers, generator sets and communication equipment among other things to be delivered to the battalion before August 14.

Commodore Biekro assured the troops that the Military High Command was fully aware of the operational and administrative challenges facing the battalion and that efforts were being made to address them. Touching on security, he advised the soldiers to be security conscious, obey command directives and work as a team. Responding to questions on the types of vehicles used by the Ghanbatt, Commodore Biekro said he had observed that most of the vehicles used by the Ghanbatt were not suitable for desert conditions and promised to carry the message to the GAF High Command for consideration.

The Chief Warrant Officer Adu cautioned troops against rumour mongering and said troops should use the chain of command to channel their grievance and not to do anything to undermine authority. The Commanding Officer, Ghanbatt 1, Lt. Col Brako Owusu led the delegation to tour the troops living area at the MINURCAT Regional Headquarters where most of them had been displaced by a heavy rainstorm that struck on June 13.