MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE INAUGURAL “GHANA/REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA DEFENCE COMMITTEE”, ACCRA, 17 AUGUST 2006

Date of Release: 16 AUGUST 2006
Embargo: None

Cooperation on defence matters between South Africa and Ghana will be further strengthened when an inaugural Ghana/RSA Defence Committee meeting is held in Accra, Ghana on 17 August 2006. The meeting to among others, discuss defence related issues, is the culmination of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries five years ago (6 October 2000) in Accra.

Since the signing of the MOU between South Africa and Ghana, the two countries have had many important bilaterals aimed at exchanging experiences; including the Sea Power for African Symposium in Cape Town and exchange of military personnel.

RSA Defence Secretary for Defence, January Masilela says “ the South African Army is very keen to benchmark certain aspects of warfare and offer a range of courses including tactical intelligence, engineering, Armour, air defence artillery, artillery courses, parachute courses, infantry courses technical training, command and control training, VIP protection services courses, flying training and flight safety training courses”.

Both Ghana and South Africa have made their mark in their respective regions through peacekeeping missions. The role of ECOWAS in mobilizing ECOMOG peacekeeping efforts in Liberia and Sierra Leone, have been as important to West Africa as South Africa’s ongoing role in peacekeeping in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Great Lakes regions, is to Southern, Central and Eastern Africa.

Ends.

Released by: The Ministry of Defence
Private Bag X 161
Pretoria
0001

Enquiries: Mr. Sam Mkhwanazi
083-628-0858