Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Friday noted that the spate of resignations and desertions by personnel of the security agencies for greener pastures, is unacceptable and called for an immediate halt. He said although the phenomenon was understandable it should not continue. Vice President Mahama, who is the Chairman of the Armed Forces Council, was addressing the graduation ceremony of Course 28, Senior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC). He said Government was looking beyond short term cosmetic efforts to improve the conditions of service of the personnel who have been trained at a huge expense. The 54 graduates drawn from Ghana and 27 other African countries under went 11 months training in Defence Management, Conflict and Crisis Management, International Peace Support Operations and Exclusive Zone Management. The course, which was facilitated by the GAFCSC, the University of Ghana (UG), Legon and the Ghana Institute Management and Public Administration, left the College with either a Masters Degree in International Affairs or a Post- Graduate Diploma in Public Administration. Vice President Mahama described the ceremony as a significant milestone not only for the graduating students, but also for the sustenance of constitutional democracy. He observed that adherence to democratic principles demand changing concepts of security and called for a high level of professionalism among the soldiers. Vice President Mahama said the challenges of defence were changing, citing armed aggression, economic and social crimes like maritime drug trafficking, illegal fishing and exploitation of economic assets. He expressed the hope that the course would promote common values in Africa to help confront serious Regional and Sub-Regional conflicts. Major General Richardson Baiden, Commandant of the GAFCSC, said in line with the College's projection to relocate the Junior Division course, an office and lecture room complex had been built to accommodate students at Otu Barracks. Professor Kwesi Yankah, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the UG, who lauded the exposure of the soldiers to academic studies, expressed the need for "the sword and pen to go together". The course attracted participants from Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. Major Kwasi Ayima of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) took home the Honour Graduate Trophy and the Best Army Student, while Squadron Leader N.N. Ananaba of the Nigerian Airforce, collected the Overall Best Allied Student, Third Best Student and the Best Airforce student awards. The Second Best student went to Major George Sam from GAF. The Best Naval student went to Lt. Commander (Lt. Cdr) B.B Abdul from Ghana, while Maj. K. Baah- Bentum also of Ghana, who distinguished himself by contributing effectively to lectures, seminars and discussions won the Everard Prize. Maj. M. Muyanga; from the Zambia Army grabbed the Commandant's Research Paper, Lt. Cdr. C. Onyemaobi, from Nigeria, the Second Prize and Maj. A.S. Ogaja from GAF, the third prize. Lt. Colonel (Lt. Col.) L. Keita from Senegal had the Most Improved Student Prize and Lt. Col. A.J. Caetano from Mozambique Army annexed the Perseverance Prize. Source: GNA