Ho, April 22, GNA-The 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho on Friday climaxed its 40th Anniversary with a durbar, at which it pledged to deepen collaboration with civil-society in the course of nation building.

Lt-Col Emmanuel Kortia, Commander told the large audience at the durbar dubbed: "Wassa" attended by officers and men from the regiment, their families, past commanders, top military officers and heads of departments that the military were "partners in development and not agents of destruction".

He said the military had high stakes in insuring good governance by playing its role of securing the borders and pooling resources with other security agencies to maintain law and order in the country, among others.

Lt-Col Kortia said the 66 Artillery Regiment, over the past few years had helped in controlling armed robbery, provided troops for peace keeping duties in dispute prone areas of the Volta Region and had also been supporting Forestry Commission to clamp down on illegal felling of timber in the Jasikan, Kadjebi and Hohoe districts.

The Regiment became operational on April 17 1966, first as the Medium Mortar Regiment at the Medo Lines in Burma Camp, which was later located to Ho and transformed over the years into a full Artillery Regiment on June 3, 2002 with a raised firepower.

Mr. Yaw Barima, Eastern Regional Minister, currently with responsibilities for the Volta Region, who was the Guest of Honour said the Regiment had been instrumental in helping build a society that had the Rule of Law as the basis of governance.

He asked officers and men of the Regiment not to be complacent with its achievements of ensuring peace and stability in the Volta Region. Major General Nicol Coleman, President of the Ghana Artillery Officers Association praised the continuing strong ties between sub-units of the Regiment and charged them to "remain united, focused and disciplined".

There were cultural displays by the Gas, Ewes, Northerners and Akans as well as a competitive military display involving stripping and assembling of mortars to mark the day.

Headquarters Battery was first, Charlie Battery, second, Alpha Battery, third and Bravo Battery, fourth in the military display. Bombardiers Emmanuel Alando and Charles Appiah-Mantey were awarded for coming tops during military skills upgrading courses and received a microwave oven and a table-top fridge respectively, while Warrant Officer Class 2 John Onumah who was adjudged the Most Dedicated Soldier got a deep-freezer.

Dignitaries at the ceremony which was characterized with shouts of the Regiment's slogans "Once a Gunner Always a Gunner" and "Where There Is Artillery There Is Glory", included Lt-Col Jonathan Howard Defence Advisor at the British High Commission and Lt-Gen. Seth Obeng, former Chief of Defence Staff, who was honoured for being three times Commander of the Regiment.

As part of the anniversary, soldiers from the Regiment undertook open door activities to strengthen military-civilian ties. These included a route march through the principal streets of Ho and participation in construction of some selected projects and blood donation. 22 April 06