The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Michael Samson-Oje, has lamented the loss of trained airmen and women in the Ghana Air Force to the economy’s private sector and other multi-national entities. “The canker of premature separation by young and highly trained officers and airmen/airwomen from all branches of the Air Force has left the service in a dilemma”, he said. The Air Force Chief attributed the situation to unattractive working conditions coupled with insufficient accommodation prevailing in the entire Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), explaining the situation was greatly influenced by “the attractive incentives offered by the private sector of the economy, multi-national entities and other global non-governmental organisations”. Addressing officers at the launch of the service’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Accra last Friday, he said “I will like to take this opportunity to assure you today that Command has initiated a programme to improve remuneration, accommodation and retirement benefits”. The Golden Jubilee celebration which spans from 23 October to 29 November this year is on the theme “Commitment to the Delivery of Air Power to Meet National Security Objectives”. Air Vice Marshal Samson-Oje mentioned also, operational infrastructure as one of its numerous challenges. “As the country joins the league of oil producing nations, the Ghana Air Force has an important role to provide the capabilities needed to secure this very important national asset. The Ghana Air Force is also currently having technical difficulties in meeting some commitments with its United Nations operations in Cote d’Ivoire”, he emphasized. The Ghana Air Force was formally established by an Act of Parliament in July 1959. It started with a flying training school in Accra with assistance from some Indian instructors and technicians. “With the drive and dynamism of the first President of the Republic, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, training of Ghanaian pilots began in earnest, incidentally with officers from the Ghana Army”. The service, Samson-Oje further noted had since grown from strength to strength and could boast of three transport squadrons, a fighter ground attack squadron and a helicopter squadron distributed to its Accra, Takoradi and Tamale stations respectively. In resolving some of these issues, the Ghana Air Force, he mentioned is currently constructing new accommodation facilities for the junior officers with renovation works on office infrastructure at the Accra Base and the other Stations in the country. “It is my conviction that this gap will be addressed appropriately with everyone’s effort”, he added. Recounting further, the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Joseph Henry Smith (rtd) said Dr. Nkrumah’s vision was to provide an image of Ghana as an emerging sovereign nation which was capable of handling its own affairs and standing alone without colonial interference. Government, he indicated was very much in tune with the requirements of the outfit and is determined to find resources to improve upon the equipment, manpower and training. Gen. Smith laid a block to signify official construction works on a 52-bedroom Golden Jubilee House project at the Air Force Base in Accra to accommodate 104 junior officers and stated that he would personally monitor the progress of work. During aerobic display, four K 8 aircraft acquired from China in recent times formed a ‘ship silver formation’. Pilots in two of the aircraft later thrilled the gathering with displays such as forming a loop, knife edge, inverted flight, slow roll, big heart among others. A KIA Picanto saloon car has however been set aside as the grand prize for the anniversary’s raffle draw. Credit: Nathaniel Y.Yankson/Daily Guide