The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, early in July announced the long term military protection for large-scale legal mining concessions under a signed memorandum with the Chamber of Mines and the Ghana Armed Forces.

The deployment, according to the Ministry is to provide protection for both life and property, against illegal miners and their activities.

The memorandum covered over 20 Companies including C&G Aleksa and GeoProfessional Services Limited, the latter of which had two Russians and two Ukrainians who were working at its site arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal mining.

The Ministry, during a tour, found soldiers present at the mining company sparking investigations into possible military involvement into illegal mining.

On Monday, July 10 the Ministry published the list of companies are covered by the Memorandum of Understanding.

There are also eight other mining companies and mining groups that have their own agreements with the Ghana Army.

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By: Sixtus Dong Ullo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Military to deploy soldiers to protect mines against galamsey today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has admonished military personnel to eschew partisan politics in the discharge of their duties.

He said it was imperative that the military becomes insulated from contentious partisan politics, irrespective of which constitutionally elected authority was in power.

“We must all be grateful to the Almighty that there is now a firm and widespread consensus in our country that the military takes its powers from the elected civilian government….We do not want NPP soldiers, nor do we want NDC soldiers. We want Ghanaian soldiers, who will serve any government, duly elected by the Ghanaian people, with equal zeal and loyalty,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo gave the advice on Friday when he held his maiden durbar, as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, with officers and other ranks of the Armed Forces in Accra.

Touching on the role of technology, he told the military to be mindful of social media.

“The ubiquitous smart phone means that your every word and your every action is likely to be recorded for broadcast. Members of the military would do well also to remember this,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo also urged the hierarchy of the military to review constantly some of the practices that used to define the military.

“What would have passed for and been acceptable as rough language and punishment is intolerable in today’s world, and should be discarded, no matter how attractive it might have been in a bygone era. The reality of social media must always be kept in mind and ways to adapt found, rather than hark to the old days when the affairs of the barracks were kept strictly in the barracks,” he added.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Shun partisan politics; be loyal to Ghana – Nana Addo to military appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The two-hour program was attended by the hierarchy of the Ghana Armed Forces and several government officials.

It was also used as an opportunity to console the family and wife of the fallen hero, Barbara Mahama.

Friends and family, clad in black and red, converged at the mess hall amidst a morose atmosphere as mourners shed tears and voiced their sorrows.

Major Mahama’s body will be moved from 37 Military Hospital to Forecourt of State House today  [Friday] 9^th June at 6:00am  for a filing past. The burial service will commence at 9: 10 am.

This will be followed by a procession to Osu Military Cemetery for internment. A Thanksgiving service will be held at Light House Chapel International, Qodesh, North Kaneshie-Accra on Sunday 11^th June at 1030 hrs.

His final funeral rites will be held at Bole fro, 13^th to 15^th June 2017 and Tumu from 16^th to 18^th June 2017 respectively.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/ctifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Vigil held for late Major Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The soldier, Warrant Officer (W/O) Adu-Bekoe, is the father of a final year general arts student, Samuel Odei, who is also a basketball player of the school.

[contextly_sidebar id=”LTESrWpnyUYDZVlcSHjMZDOb0wRz4kfG”]Samuel Odei reportedly called his father to inform him about an incident between him and a mathematics teacher, Kwadwo Darko, which led to the teacher slapping him.

Samuel Odei did not take the incident lightly, and proceeded to tell his father about it who, within two hours, came to the school with other two military colleagues all clad in uniforms to assault the maths teacher in the full glare of some students and teachers of the school.

It is unclear what might have caused the teacher to slap the student, but for the timely intervention of the Larteh and Akropong Police, the situation would have gotten out of hand, as the incident caused growing tension and unrest among some staff members and students, who were fed up and nearly retaliated at a point.

A teacher of the school who witnessed the incident and tried to intervene, narrated to Citi News that “at around 5:00pm on Friday, W/O Adu-Bekoe in the company of other two military officers all in green camouflage, came to the school with a taxi cab, and all three headed straight to the headmaster’s office.

“…After a short while, I sighted one of the military men and W/O Adu-Bekoe holding and dragging Mr. Kwadwo Darko the maths teacher by the waist of his trousers, they hit him as they dragged him along so I hurriedly called in some of the teachers to help intervene.”

He added that “the maths teacher who also functions on the Prep Committee of the school had his shirt all torn and a serious argument ensued between the teachers and the military men, but police personnel from both Larteh and Akropong arrived to control the situation at around 6:00pm.”

The teacher continued that, the police then led the 3 military personnel, the victim Mr. Darko, the Assistant headmaster and the Headmaster to the latter’s office where they held a short meeting and then moved to the Akropong Police station.

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By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Soldier assaults Benkum SHS teacher for ‘slapping’ his son appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Addressing the end-of-year get-together of the Ghana Armed Forces (WASSA), on Friday, President Akufo-Addo indicated a number of the pledges made to the Ghana Armed Forces have already been fulfilled or were already in motion.

[contextly_sidebar id=”u0qHX4Oo0XnkjuabsEZoF3xqSkv1rWFQ”]”In furtherance of our commitment to improving your welfare, my adminstraton in fulfilment of a manifesto pledge has increased the peacekeeping allowance, effective January 2017, from US$31 to US$35,” he said.

This was a major campaign promise of the New Patriotic Party along with the intent to review the service duration of the army personnel from 25 years to 30 years.

President Akufo-Addo also announced that legislation processes have already begun in this regard saying: “Legislative review of the armed forces amendment regulation of 1986, LI 1332, has begun. Its purpose is to extend the service duration of other ranks from the current 25 years to 30 years in fulfilment of the manifesto promise we made.”

Remuneration will not be a distraction

President Akufo-Addo revealed that $13 million was recently released to clear arrears owed peacekeepers. “so as I speak, no soldier is owed any money arising from peacekeeping duties.”

He also reiterated his assurance that Ghanaian peacekeepers will henceforth receive their allowances whilst on their various tours of duty.

“No matter in what part of the world you find yourself on peacekeeping duties, you will be paid your allowance there. That is the principle and we are not going back on it.”

“We are committed to providing you with modern military equipment, which would complement the training you would receive. Government is also committed to enriching the human resource base of the Armed Forces by supporting initiatives that will provide further education for soldiers, sailors and airmen to enhance further their skills at protecting our territorial integrity.”

“A contented soldier is one whose remuneration does not unduly distract him from his mandate. My government intends to take your welfare seriously,” the President assured.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo announces increase in peacekeepers’ allowances appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him the current practice where peacekeepers are paid months after the completion of their service abroad will be amended in a move to boost morale.

The President made this pledge when he interacted with the 210 Ghanaian peacekeeping troops in The Gambia, who are part of an ECOWAS’ mission there.

“We will make it a principle that wherever the peacekeeping operation is, the peacekeepers will be paid there. That is the principle, and we are not going to go back on that”, President Akufo-Addo declared.

“As it is now, the monies that are due to you for the first half of the operation, which is up to the 20th of February, have been released to you. The 50 soldiers who are to remain here for the next three months will also have what is due you released. All of you going back to Ghana on Monday will be paid in full before you leave here.”

The President also revealed that upon his assumption of office, he was told of “arrears on peacekeeping operations owed to soldiers. I decided to do something about it … and I ordered the release of $13 million to cater for the arrears.”

President Akufo-Addo was speaking after attending the inauguration ceremony of President Adama Barrow and the 52nd Independence Day celebration of The Gambia.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Gnana

The post Peacekeepers to receive allowances during missions appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.