There have been a number of terrorist attacks in Mali, Cote d’ Ivoire, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and some other West African countries in recent years.

This has led to some fear that these terrorist groups could target Ghana next.

Speaking to the media after a field training exercise however, the Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Regiment Lt Col Fiifi Deegbe said several exercises will be organised to enable the unit execute its special mandate of counter terrorism.

“With this exercise the public should be rest assured that the Ghana Armed Forces has the security of the nation at heart and they should be rest assured that everything is under control…We are well trained to react to any terrorist attack should it occur.”

The over four-hour exercise was a simulation of a real life terrorist attack at the Accra Shopping Mall.

Canada, UK issue terror attack alert in Ghana

In August 2017, the Canadian government issued a terror alert to its citizens traveling to Ghana.

“There is a threat of terrorism. Terrorist targets could include shopping malls, government buildings, public areas such as bars, restaurants, hotels and sites frequented by Westerners. Be aware of your surroundings in public places,” a notice posted by the Canadian government had indicated.

The United Kingdom in that same year indicated on its website that “terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Ghana.”

“While there have been no recent attacks in Ghana, terrorist groups in west Africa have demonstrated their capability and intent by mounting attacks in 2015 and 2016 in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Mali, targeting beach resorts, hotels, cafes and restaurants visited by foreigners,” UK government had stated on its website.

In April 2016, security services in Ghana warned of terror attacks on the country but later said enough measures had been put in place to avert terrorism.

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By: Anas Seidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘We’re ready to handle terror attacks’ – Armed Forces appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The programme, in its third year, is one of the initiatives that the Lebanese community is running to help promote education in Ghana.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Lebanese ambassador to Ghana, Ali H. Halabi, acknowledged the contribution of Ghanaian soldiers in peacekeeping efforts across the world.

“…for the Lebanese community, the contributions of Ghana’s Armed Forces to domestic and world security is an emotional affair. We fondly recall the efforts of Ghana’s peacekeeping mission to Lebanon and the sacrifices made there. They are the symbols of the decades of strong and enduring bonds between the peoples of Ghana and Lebanon. Today, we acknowledge that, it is the selfless contributions of these men and women of the Armed Forces that have established a solid security architecture under which different people in this great nation could live together peacefully…,” he stated.

“…By this action, we hope to contribute to the future of these children who are spread across all the levels of Ghana’s education system.”

This is the third year that the Lebanese community in Ghana has awarded scholarships to the dependents of matyrs.

Since the 2012/2013 academic year, the Lebanese community has been giving scholarships to these wards, along with some brilliant undergraduate students from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, law students from the University of Ghana and the Kwame University of Science and Technology, as well as some students of the Ghana School of Law (Makola) and Masters students of the Ghana Institute of Journalism.

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By: Jeffrey Owuraku Sarpong/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The process, which began some few years ago, stalled due to lack of clarity on the management structure of the Bank.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7OHSVyUQTIvdd7qY6e9xzoDMUSpdeDBJ”]In June 2016, the Bank of Ghana [BoG], granted the GAF a license to operate a savings and loans company.

The company, which is in operation, is known as Services Integrity Savings and Loans Company (SIS&L).

Speaking to military personnel in Takoradi, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General O.B Akwa, announced that all outstanding issues with the regulator have now been ironed out, as the GAF prepares to commence business before 2018.

He was speaking to personnel in Takoradi when Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, paid a two-day working visit to the 2 Garrison Unit.

Lieutenant General Akwa assured that, “the interest of all ranks of the Armed Forces will be catered for in this business. As at now, we are satisfied, and at the next Armed Forces Council Meeting, we are going to send our report and when the green light is given before the end of the year, it will start operating.”

“We have changed the governance system to ensure that the High Command is represented adequately to ensure that your interest is also taken care of, and by so saying, we have included the Sergeant Major on the board of this bank,” he added.

He explained that, the decision to have a military High Command on the board of the bank, is aimed at getting the military involved in taking critical decisions.

“If there are any concerns, at least he will be aware, and he will communicate it to us and then back to you,” he said.

He added that the GAF will also employ qualified bankers with banking expertise to help on the board.

“We are getting certified season bankers to be part of the board. So this is a pilot scheme, it’s a bold venture and your interest will never be compromised. We are using the Provident Fund at the moment as our seed capital,” he said.

He disclosed that, the GAF has majority share, hence will be instrumental in directing the affairs of the bank, subject to the rules of the regulator.

“The GAF owns the majority share, which is 75 percent. We have contacted the BoG; BoG has said that by their rules and regulations, we cannot have 100 percent share, because it is part of their laws that it should be diluted for another shareholder to be part of it.”

“A certified group, known as the Zara Group, whose background has been also verified, is for now holding that 25  percent, but it is still possible to dilute that further, so that we get a third shareholder on stream. We have done due diligence over the past eight months because of this concern that you have, and at the moment we are satisfied that you have done what is right.”

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By: citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

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In a statement copied to citifmonline.com, GAF said publications by the Daily Post Newspaper that suggested that troops were being paid $31.00 per day, instead of the promised $35.00 were false.

[contextly_sidebar id=”tcJ185BzKBFv2qyC2wJJg1hRxUupGOru”]The newspaper earlier this week reported that, contrary to the government’s promise of paying the troops $35.00, it was paying the troops less.

The Armed Forces said the publication was in bad taste, and was with the intention of downplaying the efforts of the government in promoting the welfare of troops.

The statement, which was signed by Director of Public Relations, Co. E. Aggrey-Quarshie, maintained that the soldiers were being paid the promised $35.00 per day, and there was no intention of reducing the amount.

Nana Addo announces increase in peacekeepers’ allowances

President Nana Akufo-Addo, in March 2017, announced an increase in peacekeeping allowances from $31 to $35, which took retrospective effect from January 2017.

He made the announcement when he addressed an end-of-year get-together of the Ghana Armed Forces (WASSA).

NPP to review Army retirement age upwards

The New Patriotic Party (NPP), while in opposition announced plans to review the period before retirement for recruits, popularly referred to as “other ranks” in the Ghana Armed Forces, should they return to office after the December elections.

Currently, the recruits retire after 25 years, but the NPP believes a review is needed to give them more opportunities in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

The Chairman of the party’s sub-committee on Defense and Interior at the time,  and MP for Bimbila, Dominic Nitiwul, who’s now the Defense Minister, had indicated the NPP’s intent to extend the period before retirement by five years.

Read the full statement below:

FALSE SPECULATION ON PEACEKEEPING ALLOWANCE OF TROOPS

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has noted with concern a false publication in the Daily Post Newspaper on 12 October 2017 claiming that troops on UN peacekeeping operations are being paid $31.00 instead of the $35.00 promised by Government. GAF wishes to state categorically that this information is totally false and without any iota of truth. It is hereby reiterated that the approved rate of payment remains $35.00 per soldier per day without any intention of reducing it.

The negative comments being circulated with the intention of downplaying the efforts of Government in promoting troops welfare is considered to be in bad taste and the general public is hereby advised to disregard it.

SIGNED

E AGGREY-QUASHIE

Colonel

Director Public Relations

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The President said the outstanding arrears follow their migration onto the single spine salary structure.

Addressing members of the Ghana Armed Forces at Burma Camp on Friday, President Akufo Addo said government is working on reviewing the salaries of personnel.

“The briefs I have received indicate that not enough attention is paid to the concerns and plights of our civilians’ brothers and sisters, our families and our veterans. It is to them accordingly that I make these remarks. I understand that the fair wages and salaries commission recommended payment of three days’ work, representing 11.1% as additional allowance to the civilian employees as far back as 2011. The recommendation is yet to be processed by the Ministry of Finance.”

“The General headquarters subsequently sent a reminder to the Ministry of Defense, which has in turn on 22 May 2017 also requested the Ministry of Finance, to effect the recommendations of the fair wages and salaries commission on the payment of the 11% as additional allowance. The Ministry of Finance is processing that for execution,” the president added.

The President also said he has been informed that civilian employees within the Armed Forces are compelled to wear the prescribed uniform to work every day lamenting although government is supposed to provide them with the uniforms, the employees do it themselves.

Uniform allowances to be paid by August

He added that government is aware that it had defaulted in making such allowances available to the civilian employees for two months and will thus honour its obligation by August.

“I’m informed that, the civilian employees of the armed forces, unlike their counterparts in the public service are compelled to wear the prescribe uniform to work every day. The uniforms are purchased and maintained by the civilians themselves and the country receives GHc40 across board as uniform allowance. We understand that government is in arrears of two months which will be rectified in your August salaries,” he added.

Civilian employees important

President Akufo-Addo also told the members of the Armed Forces that their government is working on providing them with adequate accommodation facilities.

“There is also the question of accommodation and the expectations of civilian employees. These are all legitimate concerns of the civilians and they deserve to be treated with the same urgency as the concerns of their uniform colleagues. The contributions of the civilian employees are important to the success of the military establishment and these outstanding matters will be addressed expeditiously so that the enhancement of the morale of all segments of the armed forces can be achieved for the greater cohesion of the armed forces. We have to pay due attention to the concerns and plights of our civilian brothers and sisters, our families and our veterans,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Pay military civilians’ arrears – Akufo-Addo to Finance Ministry appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the GAF, it was worried that such misleading information had been peddled in the media and it is ready to provide clarity on circumstances surrounding the former officer’s death.

The late Major Maxwell Mahama was lynched and partly burnt by some residents of Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region on 29^th May, 2017, on suspicion of being an armed robber.

Some reports suggested that the late military man was attacked and killed by the residents because he was in the town to stop illegal mining; an activity most of the residents were engaged in, but that was later discredited.

The host of Asempa FM’s ‘Ekosii sen’ radio show, KABA, however said on his show after the incident that the late army officer was going to meet some illegal miners in the area when he was ambushed by the town folks and killed.

According to him, some soldiers had earlier attempted to meet with the illegal miners and were nearly killed, but Major Mahama who was unaware of the earlier incident also proceeded to agree on a meeting with them without adequate protection.

But the Military high command has said KABA’s claims are false.

In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Colonel Aggrey Quarshie, said investigations were still ongoing hence the need to refrain from making such baseless statements.

Read the full statement below:

In the aftermath of the unfortunate death of Major Maxwell Adam Mahama, a number of unsubstantiated assertions have been made by Kwodwo Asare Baffour Acheampong (KABA) on Asempa FM on Monday 5 June 2017.

We wish to state categorically that the claims by KABA that the late Major Mahama was initially deployed at Denkyira-Boase from January to March 2017 are totally FALSE.  The first time Maj Mahama was deployed to the location was 9 May 2017.  The assertion that the late officer was due to write exams and was relieved by a Lieutenant is also FALSE.  Major Mahama passed his promotion examination in June 2015 (2 years ago).  On the contrary, it is the Lieutenant who is writing his promotion examination in June 2017 (this year) for which reason Major Mahama was deployed on relieving duties.

Regarding the circumstances of his death, it is also important to place on record that investigations are still on-going and therefore it would be both prejudicial and insensitive to make wild, unsubstantiated comments at this stage. The issue of the 4 Warrant Officers who are facing disciplinary investigation is also unconnected with the current case and we advise that no attempt should be made to draw any linkages.

GAF wishes to advise media personnel to be mindful of their sources of information especially during this period in order not to misinform the public. They should pay due regard to the sensitivity of the deceased family in these trying moments.

GAF therefore wishes to reiterate that the allegations made by KABA on his programme which has been recorded and being circulated online, social media networks and some mainstream electronic and print media outlets, are misleading.

GAF once again reiterates its readiness to clarify matters and give GAF’s side of issues to media personnel to avert the publication and broadcast of misleading information which has long term security implications.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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It said he will be buried in the Military Cemetery in Accra. The spokesperson for the family, Zakaria Sakara, made the announcement at the family’s press conference on Saturday.

He added that, the family will hold a thanksgiving service in memory of Captain Mahama on Sunday, June 11, 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”c1IHvV1ZDyf3x34dtH4oBdCV2GsBybay”]The deceased, an officer of the 5^th Infantry Battalion, was lynched and partly burnt by some youth of Denenkyira-Obuasi in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region on Monday, May 29, 2017, on suspicion that he was an armed robber.

Over 20 suspects have so far been arrested by the police in connection with the murder, seven of which have already made an appearance in court and have been remanded to police custody until 19th June, 2017.

His death has rekindled the debate on mob justice, and the need to end the canker.

Captain Mahama’s family requests monument in his honour

Meanwhile, the family of the late Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama, has requested that a monument is built in honour of the army officer, whose murder shocked the country.

Captain Mahama’s family made the request known during a courtesy call by the leadership of Parliament, where it expressed the hope that this monument would serve as a reminder of the tragedy and a deterrent to the canker of mob justice in Ghana.

A family spokesperson said, “after the burial, the family wants a monument to be built anywhere in Ghana on his behalf so that in the future, we use that to remember and that in our lifetime we don’t want to see anything of this sort again.”

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By: Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Capt. Mahama to be buried on June 9 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Upper Denkyira West District, Daniel Apiannin, had given indications that the military officers had invaded the area and taken about 80 men hostage, while women and children had been camped in a church situated in the area.

[contextly_sidebar id=”yvOaXear0vgLlWsCi63W3iyJFgf0sFcD”]“I was at the scene, they’ve arrested a lot of men, they’ve beaten a number of them, they’ve camped women and children in a church. What happened when the robbery happened? Didn’t we realize that we need to bring security to come and protect the people?  One person is dead and it is bringing the entire military to the place. This is the country we are living in.”

He added that “I’ve seen it myself, at least I saw about 80 men lined up on the floor. The women and children have been camped in a church. The military people were saying that unless they get their gun, they are not leaving them. I spoke to their commander; I went there with my district police commander, BNI and other security operatives in the district. The security men are saying they will only leave when they retrieve their gun,” the DCE said.

But speaking on Eyewitness News, the Public Relations Officer for the Ghana Armed Forces, Col. Aggrey Quarshie, dismissed these reports, clarifying that the military officers “are not there to threaten anybody.”

While emphasizing that the officers will not brutalize any resident for the said incident, Col Quarshie also explained that,  the officers only visited the area to provide protection for some officers who had been tasked to investigate the incident.

“They are not there to threaten anybody but definitely they will help to provide protection for the investigators. I don’t think the officers will go brutalizing anybody because they have been spoken to. A whole Chief of Army staff has been there so I don’t think the officers will go brutalizing people.”

“Our personnel are still on the ground, they went there to perform a duty and until the task order is withdrawn, they will continue to be there. And that is even the more reason why they need to develop good neighborliness with the people and the people should also understand that they are there in their own interest so they can operate peacefully together,” Col. Quarshie added.

Asked whether the security personnel deployed to the area would retrieve Captain Mahama’s pistol believed to have been taken from him after he was lynched, Col Quarshie responded in the affirmative, saying “Definitely …If they themselves have seen that the man was carrying the pistol , then definitely somebody has the pistol so they need to find the pistol. There are investigators there and so I am sure it will be part of the things they will be looking for.”

Captain Mahama was lynched and burnt by some residents in Diaso, after he was supposedly mistaken for an armed robber.

5 arrested over Capt. Mahama’s gruesome killing

Meanwhile, the Central Regional Police Command has arrested five persons suspected to have taken part in the tragic killing of Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama at Diaso, a town near Denkyira-Obuasi.

Confirming the arrest to Citi News, the Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, said police acted on some leads after investigations in the town on Tuesday.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

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The Regional Minister made the remark in a Citi News interview following the lynching of Captain Mahama, at Diaso in the Upper Denkyira West District on Monday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6GcMCeowLv9C9dJXxUoqQDJ7FMKmsodI”]The residents reportedly lynched and burnt Captain Mahama because they thought he was an armed robber.

According to the District Chief Executive for the area, Daniel Appianing, some military personnel have held about 80 residents hostage, demanding for the gun of the deceased.

“I wish to use this opportunity to appeal to the military that this is purely a criminal matter, and the solution to this crime is not about the use of brute force. I’m told that some statement they released said they will not spare anybody. If you say you will not spare anyone who are you saying you are not going to spare? Is it the people in that town, district, anybody who comes on sight or the entire region? That is not the way to go,” the Central Regional Minister said.

Kwamena Duncan also called on the Ghana Armed Forces to use due process in the course of their investigations.

“It is a dastardly act, one that is unacceptable. But for A society which is governed by rules and laws, the best way to go about it is to apply the procedures, to investigate and pursue those who have committed this heinous crime and bring them to justice. The solution is not about going on rampage and attacking or brutalizing anybody that you see,” he added.

The Ghana Armed Forces had explained that Captain Mahama, a member of the 5th Infantry Battalion and his colleagues, were deployed to the town to curb illegal mining also known as galamsey.

The Ghana Armed Forces has also urged its troops to remain calm following the gruesome murder.

It said it was working to bring justice to the deceased and those affected by his murder.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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