Limited accommodation for soldiers worrying — Chief of Army Staff

The Chief of Army Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Major General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona, has expressed concern over the limited accommodation available to personnel within the army, emphasising the detrimental impact it has on their morale and performance.

He observed that many young soldiers, some with less than a year of service, are forced to live in tents, makeshift accommodations or private residences outside the barracks, contrary to the terms and conditions of service. Soldiers are supposed to live in barracks to facilitate their continuous training, regimentation, guidance and mentoring.

“The current state of affairs is severely affecting morale as it limits their ability to progress in service and impacts their overall performance. All military personnel must remain within reach of High Command for rapid deployment in times of emergency,” Maj. Gen. Onwona said.

Army’s Quick Impact Project.

The Chief of Army Staff expressed the concern when he cut sod for the construction of a new accommodation facility in Accra for young soldiers as part of the Army’s Quick Impact Project.

The project is an initiative aimed at addressing the severe housing shortage for young soldiers across the country.

It will involve the construction of 10 three-story buildings, each with a 144-bed capacity across the Southern, Central and Northern commands.

The project will be funded by the army headquarters with support from donors, benefactors and friends of the army.

It is expected to provide immediate relief to over 1,400 soldiers with the flexibility to expand as the soldiers advance in their careers.

Maj. Gen. Onwona stated that the shortage of living spaces in the barracks remained a huge challenge for the GAF due to its inability to systematically expand the housing stock over the years.

“For many years, the GAF has faced a shortage of living spaces in the barracks. This shortage is largely due to our inability, over the years, to systematically expand the housing stock.

“Recently, the problem has been exacerbated by the expansion of the force, which necessitated an increase in personnel without a corresponding increase in available accommodation.

“It may interest you to know that the strength of the Ghana Army has increased by a remarkable 104 per cent over the last seven years alone. A recent study conducted by my staff revealed that young soldiers are the most affected by this situation,” Maj. Gen. Onwona said.

He, therefore, expressed his gratitude for the considerable efforts made by both past and present governments to address the deficit.

He gave a special commendation to the current government for the initiatives under the Barracks Regeneration Project Policy, which alleviated the situation to some extent.

He said the policy had resulted in the construction of several two-bedroom flats for officers in various locations. 

Young soldiers

However, despite those efforts, he said the impact on young soldiers had been minimal due to their large numbers and the magnitude of the deficit.

“In response to this challenge, the army headquarters is pleased to announce the Quick Impact Project Initiative. This initiative is designed to bring some immediate relief to our young soldiers.

We all understand how important it is for these soldiers to have a comfortable space where they can rest after a long day. After all, they have sworn to pay the ultimate price to defend this country and its Constitution,” Maj. Gen. Onwona stated.

He assured that he would not relent in his efforts to find solutions that enhance the capacity and capabilities of the army.