Vice President John Dramani Mahama has advised the military high command against enlisting the youth into their ranks based on political and ethnic affiliations. He said the vacancies for recruitment were meant for strong and able Ghanaian youth and the recruitment along those lines would further polarize Ghanaians who had already been divided along those lines over the years. Vice President Mahama gave this advice when he addressed officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces during their annual West African Soldiers Social Activity (WASSA) celebration in Accra on Friday. The ceremony attracted both retired and serving officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces, some retired police officers and members of the Ghana Armed Forces civilian workers. Vice President Mahama commended the military command for establishing a barracks at Bawku, which he said had helped in reducing the political and ethnic tension that had bedevilled the area for so many years. He therefore urged them to step up their operations to quell all other ethnic skirmishes in the country. He said government was on the verge of completing negotiations for the arrival of six additional aircraft to augment the fleet of planes for the Ghana Air force adding; government will also refurbish four old aircrafts to facilitate their operations. The Vice President also announced that government would provide facilities to enhance the work of the Airborne Force to intensify their parachuting prowess and maintain their position as one of the best in the West African sub-region. He promised that government would create a congenial atmosphere for the military to carry out their peace and defensive mandate in the country. The command also presented certificates and household items to long serving staff and those who had distinguished themselves in various departments. Source: GNA