Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, on Friday, bid farewell as Chairman of the Ghana Armed Forces Council, ending media speculations that he was lobbying to be the running mate of the Flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party. By virtue of his position, Vice President Mahama has presided over the Council for close to eighth years and also as Guest of Honour at the annual graduation ceremony of the Senior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College since 2001. In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, at the Graduation Ceremony of Course 29 of the college in Accra, he expressed the hope that the strong bond of relationship that he had developed with the Army and the College would not end with his departure. Fifty six officers drawn from Ghana, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo Uganda and Rwanda, graduated at the ceremony after 11 years of training in military disciplines and international relations. Vice President Mahama said: “The graduation… that we are witnessing is my eighth and as you know my last before I leave office as the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.” He observed that Africa is bedeviled with many problems like poverty, disease, illiteracy and famine in the midst of abundant natural resources, adding that, the blame lies on the inability of the Continent to address the challenges of the times. “The situation has often led to conflict, resulting in the tragic and tremendous loss of life, freedom and property.” He commended Britain for the support it had offered to the College through the British Advisory and Training Team. Vice President Mahama announced that a conference of Commandants of African Staff Colleges will be held in Accra in October, this year on the theme: “Enhancing African Union Nations Peace Support Operations through Joint/ Integrated Training in African Staff Colleges. Major General Richardson Edwin Baiden, Commandant of the College, said the ceremony was the last time that Alhaji Mahama was addressing the ceremony as the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana. “We are going to miss him,” he said, and wished him farewell in his future endeavours. Maj. Gen. Baiden said the keen interest allied students were showing in the courses being run by the College, was an indication that the military academic facility was contributing to the objectives of the African Union. Professor Clifford Nii Boye Tagoe, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, lauded the seven years collaboration between the University and the College, which he said was facilitating the use of intellectual and military might in resolving conflicts and promoting international relations. Source: GNA