Appointments C’ttee vets 3 more ministers-designate
The Deputy Minister of Defence-designate, Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has said the time had come for the expertise of the Ghana Armed Forces to be tapped for national development.
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He said considering the professional class within the institution, if that was done, the military could generate funds to support its budgetary allocation.
Mr Adjei, a business development manager at Phoenix Life Insurance Company, said, for instance, the Field Engineers Regiment, with the support of other engineers within the institution, could be resourced to undertake road construction, housing and other integrated economic schemes to generate funds internally.
The Deputy Minister of Defence- designate, made the suggestions when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday.
He asked the ministries of Defence and the Interior, to critically look at those areas to solicit contracts and projects for the military to supplement their annual budget allocation.
Mr Adjei also said in times of peace, the institution could be used to support the agricultural sector to ensure food security.
Peacekeeping
On peacekeeping, Mr Adjei said he would also encourage the government to equip the military to enhance their peacekeeping missions since they had excelled in the missions abroad.
Since its first peacekeeping mission in the Congo in the 1960s, the military continue to offer their support to the United Nation's missions.
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Mr Adjei said as an insurance expert, he was of the view that all government vehicles needed to be insured against unforseen contingencies such as accidents.
On the issue of the alleged sale of military lands by the GAF, he said the armed forces command had explained that it did not sell any lands but had rather entered into private partnership agreements with some entities.
The Deputy Minister designate said he would promote harmony between the civilian population and the military, while maintaining the open fora within the armed forces to address concerns of the personnel.
Lands Commission
Earlier, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, designated as Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said the records at the Lands Commission needed to be digitised to enhance its operations.
He cited indeterminate land boundaries, multiple land sales and land guards, as major sources of litigation and conflict over land.
Asked whether he was aware of land grabbing, especially, with the oil and gas find in the Western Region, he said the constitution defined the measure of land a foreigner could acquire.
Works and Housing
The Deputy Minister-designate for the Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Samuel Yaw Adusei, said he would take active interest in the e construction of the Kejetia Market.
He said he would recommend that some of the buildings in prime areas be converted into high rise ones to reduce the housing deficit in the country.
He also recommended that major drains in the city be desilted before and after the rains to minimise flooding.