Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlarbi has urged the Ghana Armed Forces to take the study of French language very serious as it will enhance their capacity to work effectively and efficiently as well as strengthen cooperation between Ghana Armed Forces and its French speaking neighbors in the sub region.

The deputy minister for defence who made the remark during the opening of a seventh French Language Center for the Ghana Armed Forces at 6 Garrison Air Force Base in Tamale noted that to enhance sub regional cohesion, language barriers must be broken to enable troops operate smoothly with their French counterparts.

He said the opening of French Language Centers at Military Garrisons across the country is among a series of measures adopted by the Ministry of Defence in partnership with the French Embassy in Accra to develop a working knowledge in French among personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Over 500 personnel from all ranks including civilian employees of the Ghana Armed Forces have been trained in basic, intermediate and advanced French courses at the various French Language Centers.

To further help personnel broaden their horizon of the study of the French language; an annual competition has been instituted where the winner enjoys a sponsored trip to France among other things. A French-to-English pocket-size aide memoir has been printed and distributed to personnel to enhance their proficiency in the language.

Present at the ceremony were the French Ambassador to Ghana, Frederic Clavier, Officers of the Ghana Armed Forces and Civilian Employees of 6 Garrison in Tamale.