LOAD-DATE: November 19, 2002
11/19/2002 15:12:17
Big Deal for Forces: Us$55 Million for Peacekeeping
Accra, Nov 18, 2002 (Accra Mail/All Africa Global
Media via COMTEX) -- An ADM Report
Ghana's regular participation in UN peacekeeping
missions is about to yield the most tangible benefit
with arrangements for an extraordinary US$55 million
loan at an advanced stage.
The facility, which places Ghana in a win-win
situation, is to be contracted from Barclays Bank of
Ghana and London by the Ministry of Defence with a
repayment period of 3 years.
The unique point of the facility is that not a pesewa
of it will be taken out of Ghana's coffers for the
repayment of the loan even though the military
accoutrements to be purchased with the loan will
eventually be Ghana Government property.
And this is the first time Ghana is accessing this
facility, which has been used by even some Western
countries to boost their military capabilities even
though Ghana's participation in UN peacekeeping
missions dates back to the 1960s!
Ghana is currently involved in peacekeeping missions
in Lebanon, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC).
Due to the high level of confidence in Ghana's
military, the UN requested the Government to deploy a
battalion more to join the two companies already in
place, while another request was put in for an
aviation unit and a medical Level II Hospital Unit,
all in the DRC.
It was in response to these requests that the
Government took advantage of the "Wet Lease"
arrangement, which many Western and more resourced
countries have already taken advantage of to equip
their militaries.
Under the "Wet Lease" arrangement, a troop
contributing country (TCC), which was supposed to meet
a certain level of equipment requirement, was
reimbursed for the cost of maintenance of its
equipment while on the mission and the inconvenience
suffered by the country as a result of the use of its
equipment outside the country itself.
With the current troop strength of the Ghana Armed
Forces in the DRC, the country is expected to rake in
about $25 million a year. It is from this that the $55
million loan will be paid, without any money going out
of Ghana's own resources.
Stressing the need for the loan facility, a military
source explained that, "The UN will not allow
deployment of troops unless the full range of
equipment is provided and inspected in Ghana prior to
the deployment".
The source was emphatic that the loan will be repaid
solely from reimbursements from Ghana's participation
in UN peacekeeping operations.
"The Government of Ghana will not pay any portion of
the loan since the peacekeeping money that will accrue
from the resulting enhanced capacity and capability of
the Ghana Armed Forces will be more than enough to
settle it."
The loan facility and its benefits to Ghana represents
a refreshing change from the practice in the past when
government used peacekeeping accounts to settle
certain deals like the yet to be resolved questionable
Gulfstream jet purchase.
Copyright Accra Mail. Distributed by All Africa Global
Media(AllAfrica.com)
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