By Iddi Yire
Accra, April 11, GNA – The Otumfuo-led peace mediation as part of efforts to address the Bawku conflict will resume next week, President John Dramani Mahama, has disclosed.
The President made the disclosure in his address at the graduation of the Regular Career Course 63 of the Ghana Military Academy at Teshie, near Accra.
“The Ghana Armed Forces is engaged in several threats in several theaters to maintain peace and security in our nation. One major flashpoint continues to be the Bawku area. Only two days ago, an incident in a marketplace triggered an unfortunate loss of lives and criminal vandalism of property,” he stated.
“I wish to emphasize that nobody gains from this situation of conflict and insecurity.
“We have triggered the Otumfuo mediation process, which saw all stakeholders participate in discussions in Kumasi on a roadmap towards peace. I am assured by the Asantehene that the process will resume next week when he returns from his brief visit abroad.”
The President congratulated the Armed Forces for the sacrifices they had made, even at the peril of their lives, to protect life and property in the Bawku conflict area.
“We need the cooperation of all to restore peace in Bawku and its environment, and I entreat all sides to embrace peace as we dialogue to resolve this age-old dispute.”
President Mahama said plans for the expansion of the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure increased capacity to counter both internal and external threats were initiated while he was in office in his previous term.
“During this period, we supervised the acquisition of air, land, and sea assets to equip the Armed Forces to fulfill their mandate of keeping our nation safe,” President Mahama said.
“In resetting our nation to build the Ghana we want; my government will aggressively pursue the ideas of operational and combat readiness of the Ghana Armed Forces. We will resource the Ghana Armed Forces.”
This, he said, means better equipment, including more simulators, advanced training, and the ability to mobilize swiftly in times of need.
The President assured the Ghana Armed Forces that the Government would equip them to excel in their duties.
He said the Government shall assess the retooling initiative and facilitate cost-effective outcomes to equip their army to the standards required for a 21st century defence force.
“As we reveal in the significant achievements of our young Regular Career Course 63 Graduates, who are ready to secure Ghana’s peace and sovereignty, we must also reflect on Ghana’s illustrious legacy in international peacekeeping,” he said.
“We pride ourselves in our nation’s commitment to global peace and security. Indeed, this has not been a recent endeavor.”
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