Personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have been advised to remain dedicated to efforts at creating a congenial atmosphere of peace and security in the country. Lt Gen Seth Obeng, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, who gave the advice, said while the GAF assisted in the very challenging task confronting the nation in the maintenance of law and order, and more importantly the defence of the constitution of Ghana, it was equally important that the personnel discharged their duties with good sense of judgement at all times. “Circumspection, care and divine wisdom must guide all your actions even in the face of extreme provocation. The confidence reposed in you will be lost, if you allow yourselves to be misled to indulge in acts inimical to the currently bright image of the Armed Forces, or the notion of social justice and the maintenance of the rule of law,” he added. Gen Obeng was speaking at a thanksgiving and Appreciation Day parade for personnel of the Southern Command of the GAF in Accra. Four units, one officer, nine other ranks and one civilian employee were given awards for distinguishing themselves in their various tasks in 2007. Each unit was presented with GH¢10,000, a plaque, souvenirs and had their names imprinted on an honour monument. The soldiers and the civilian employee received GH¢1,000 each, a plaque, certificates, souvenirs and also had their names imprinted on an honour monument that was unveiled at the ceremony. Gen Obeng said dramatic changes in global political, socio-economic and technological environment, coupled with increasing instability on the continent and the incidence of poverty, hunger, homelessness and disease, had conjoined to exact an unprecedented range of demands on the GAF. “These demands involve a new sense of patriotism, a higher degree of selflessness, a loftier sense of fairness, greater patience and unalloyed justice, which must increasingly underpin the range of responsibilities from your core function of protecting and defending our motherland, to internal and international peace support and humanitarian operations,” he said. “They also extend to cover the vital support duties for domestic civil authority structures, especially in the rising wake of natural and human disasters,” he added. Speaking about the attributes of a good soldier, Gen Obeng said the Ghanaian military person must depend on good intelligence and, with military preparedness, be found at the right place and at the right time to perform for God and country the noble tasks for which he or she had been trained and had sworn to die with dignity and pride. He urged the military to avoid the temptation to seek the path of ease, complacency or indolence, and march on to the glorious days ahead. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Southern Command, Brigadier-General Emmanuel Okyere, said the units were awarded, among other things, for planning and implementing realistic and innovative internal unit training programmes for officers and men and timely administration of justice, while the personnel were awarded for knowledge of command policies, battle fitness and other qualities. Source: Daily Graphic