Ghana’s military receives donated equipment from Germany

11 February 2015 by defenceWeb

The Ghana Armed Forces has received 1.5 million euros worth of equipment from Germany and will use the hardware in support of its contribution to the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Standby Force.

The equipment was handed over earlier this week by German representative Doris Barnett (on behalf of German ambassador Ruediger John) and included nine Man trucks, two speedboats, vehicle maintenance equipment and at least a couple of Mercedes Benz 4x4s.

The equipment was handed over by the German Armed Forces Technical Advisory Group (GAFTAG) at Burma Camp, the headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces. The GAFTAG has been at the forefront of the Federal Republic of Germany Equipment Aid programme to the Ghana Armed Forces since 2005 and its focus is mainly on supporting the Ghana Engineer Company as they train as part of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Standby Force.

The ceremony, attending by high ranking Ghanaian defence officials and various German representatives, also marked the completion by GAFTAG of various infrastructure projects involving the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Technical Training School (EMETTS) and the renovation of various workshops and facilities.

The Ghana Armed Forces noted that GAFTAG had also completed the construction of a one storey, seven-classroom building, a 70-man building for student accommodation, an administration block and eight mechanical and electrical workshops, which were commissioned in 2010.

The Deputy Minister for Defence, Alex Segbefia, speaking on behalf of Defence Minister Benjamin Kunbuor, said the equipment would help in the fight against terrorism in the region.

Barnett said Germany was happy to assist Ghana improve its infrastructure and, with the German Advisory Group, “Ghana has become a pillar of the African Standby Force and this will improve the bilateral relation between Ghana and Germany’.’

Barnett is in Ghana as part of a budget committee delegation visiting the country between 8 and 12 February to see first-hand the assistance Germany is providing the West African nation. Germany’s support to Ghana’s military is aimed at strengthening Ghana’s participation in the ECOWAS Standby Force as well as the United Nations and African Union.