The Minister of Defence has assured the nation that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will continue to remain professional, politically neutral and subject to democratic control. Lt. Gen. Joseph Henry Smith said the GAF would also proactively promote national and regional defence interests and effectively contribute to the national development agenda. To this end, the Ministry of Defence and the Military High Command would implement a strategic plan to improve the combat readiness of increasing logistics and infrastructural system for rapid response to emergencies as well as improve on the human resource and institutional capacity. Gen. Smith said this at a durbar with all ranks and civilian employees of the GAF at Burma Hall in Accra, last Friday. He noted that Ghana, as a fast growing economy, could face a lot of challenges in the area of security, and said the GAF should be prepared to fight this challenge. The government would, therefore, continue to re-equip all sections of the Armed Forces. He said since 2009, the ministry had acquired vehicles, ships and aircrafts for the Navy, Air force and the army and also repaired old equipment. He commended the GAF for maintaining peace, stability and security of the country. “The road ahead will not be easy, as there will be potholes and obstacles but with you as a professional security institution, the sky will not be the limit but rather the beginning,” he added. He announced that efforts were being made to improve on facilities at the training schools of GAP. Lt. Gen. Smith disclosed that approval had been given by government to pay 20 per cent across-the-board salary increase to the civilian employees of the GAF which took effect on January 1, this year. He said uniformed medical personnel of the GAF were to benefit from the Rank Based Salary Structure (RBSS) as being enjoyed by all uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces. He assured that health personnel working with the GAF would be paid just like their colleagues enjoying the Single Spine Salary Structure, including all allowances.