The 4th Infantry Battalion (4BN) Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, last Friday, extended a hand of friendship to the business community and media for a breakfast meeting.
The guests, which included representatives of Darko Farms, Vodafone Ghana, Despite Group, Angel Group of Companies, Tabea, Champion, and media organisations among others, were exposed to the daily routines of soldiers at the barracks, as well as the organisational structures of the Command.
The gesture, according to Lt. Col. Kwasi Ware Peprah, Commanding Officer, was to create a healthy relationship for a peaceful co-existence, and thus enhance military-civilian relations.
He said such interactions periodically would help close the gap of perceived enmity between the military by civilians.
The Commanding Officer said it would also help dispel from the minds of civilians that soldiers were hostile. “Soldiers are the most gentle, caring, and disciplined beings on earth,” Lt. Col. Peprah vouched.
He mentioned that the military played significant roles in the socio-economic and political development of the nation, and thus helped to ensure efficiency in the system.
Lt. Col. Peprah said that the military had mandatory roles to defend the territorial integrity of the nation, and assist in the maintenance of security, law and order, as well as undertaking disaster and rescue operations.
It also helped with internal operations, in reference to Operation Calm Life, Hot One and Two, Operation Safe, Operation Cow Leg, to contain robberies and criminal activities.
Touching on the contribution of the military to socio-economic development, Lt. Col. Peprah mentioned its assistance in the areas of health and education, and combating of anti-economic activities, including cross-border smuggling and illegal mining.
These contributions, notwithstanding, the Command faced administrative challenges in efforts to improve upon existing infrastructures and adequate accommodation, lack of which had compelled most soldiers to live outside the barracks.
To address the accommodation problem, the Command had initiated construction of six apartments and a 20-bedroom residential accommodation project among other self-initiated interventions, which had currently stalled because of lack of funds.
He emphasised the need for soldiers to be accommodated at the barracks at all times for ease of mobilisation when the need arises.
Lt. Col. Peprah has, therefore, appealed to the business community, organisations and individuals to assist the Command in cash and kind to enable it complete the said projects for the benefit of the troops and society.
He assured the guests that in spite of the challenges, the Unit (4BN) would, in line with its slogan, “Never Give Up” on its core mandate.
