Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, Minister of Defence has advised personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to refrain from indulging in politics, and serve the national interest to ensure the continuous sanity, peace and security of the nation.
He said the military was the heart and life-breath of the country, and had nothing more than to remain loyal, trustworthy and patriotic to the nation in order to avoid chaos and mutiny that had characterized most of our neighbouring countries.
Mr Woyongo was addressing a durbar of military and civilian personnel in Tamale, as part of his tour of the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces where he inspected some military installations, residence and interacted with the personnel.
He used the occasion to commission two Infantry Assault Fighting Vehicles meant for the Bawku base of the GAF where the vehicles were supposed to be used to complement the peace efforts in the area.
The Minister said the military had no option but to serve the nation diligently, irrespective of any government that comes to power saying, “There is no NPP or NDC in the language of the military”.
Mr Woyongo commended the military in the northern sector of the country, who he said, had been proactive in curbing most conflicts in the area, and expressed the need for the continuous working relationship between the military and the Police Service in order to sustain the peace and security.
The Minister after inspecting the military barracks and other facilities in Tamale, stressed the need for a good maintenance culture among the personnel to ensure that facilities that had been provided by government lasted longer.
He disclosed that government through the Ministry of Defence, was securing a loan facility to provide decent accommodation for the military, stressing that very soon, serious rehabilitation works would begin on some of the residential and office accommodations, to give a positive face-lift in the military.
On encroachment on military lands in Tamale, the Minister indicated that an agreement had been reached between the Gulkpe Naa of Tamale and the Ministry to cede some lands to the chief, and that documentation was in the process to complete the process to guarantee total protection of military lands.
Mr Woyongo urged the media to develop positive and cordial relationships with the military, and tread cautiously in order to avoid the constant military and media rift since both institutions are serving positive functions for the citizenry.