By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday March 18, 2010
The Commandant of the Military Academy Training Schools (MATS), Rear Admiral M.M. Tahiru says the military owes its existence to the public, asking them to query any excesses on their part.
“The military derives its existence from the public. We have the expertise, but the power and control is yours so get involved with in whatever we do,” he added.
Rear Admiral Tahiru was speaking at the launch of the golden jubilee anniversary celebration of the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) in Accra yesterday, which is themed, “Beyond 50 years of Excellence: Turning out elite leaders for national and international peace and security.”
Since its establishment on April 1, 1960, the academy has produced over 3000 military officers both locally and internationally who are now serving in various capacities.
Rear Admiral Tahiru added, “We are in existence because the civilian authority wants a military. The training we get here helps us to defend the sovereignty of the country. Civilians give us the backing to defend the nation. We can only go to war when the civilians ask us to do so and once they direct us not fire any bullet, we pack and come back home.”
“In Europe, civilians care about what their military does but over here they think we are a group of people who set our own rules and are always divorcing ourselves from them.”
Rear Admiral Tahiru urged the public to get involved in the activities of the military in order to appreciate its operations.
Brigadier General J.S. Nkrumah, Deputy Commandant of MATS, who is also the president of the GMA’s 50th anniversary celebration said, “We will mark the occasion to befit the status of this prestigious training institution and we urge the public to get involved in this celebration.”
He outlined series of activities, including public lectures to mark the celebration, which starts from April 1 2010 with an official launch, stressing that on September 3, 2010 they organize a grand graduation parade that would be attended by President Mills.
“The public must get to know about this important activity and participate in it since it is only the media that can help us to achieve this. The media is our partner for national development and together we can help build this nation,” he emphasized.
Brigadier General O.B Akwa, Commandant of the GMA stated, “We are passionate about the training of our officers because their services are not only restricted to the military but promote other sectors of the economy.”
Commodore G.M. Biekro, Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters in Burma Camp, Accra said “Our doors are open to the media. We want them to get closer to us so that they can help us to enhance the civil/military relations.”
Colonel W.K. Nibo, Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces revealed that the civilian/military relation had improved considerably over the years, indicating that “this celebration offers an opportunity for the civilians to be part of what we do.”
In a related development, the Minister of Defence, General J.H. Smith (Rtd) cut sod for the commencement of the construction of an electronic research library at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre.
The facility, which would cost about GH¢1.4 million, is being financed by the Italian government.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
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