President John Dramani Mahama has seen off officers and men from the Ghana Armed Forces engineering corps on a humanitarian reconstruction mission to Jamaica following devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The troops will engage in engineering and reconstruction works, technical and logistical support services, and community-focused assistance.
The deployment reflects Ghana’s solidarity with Jamaica and shared history, values and bonds within the African-Caribbean family.
In his remarks at the sendoff ceremony in Accra on Wednesday, the President revealed the mission came after a phone call with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who requested assistance with rebuilding and providing shelter for displaced persons.
“He thanked me for the assistance we had dispatched and, in our discussion, he said what they need currently is assistance with rebuilding and providing shelter for the people who have been displaced. And so, I offered to send regiments of our engineering corps to help with the assistance,” President Mahama explained.
Ghana is also shipping tents by sea to provide temporary shelter for displaced Jamaicans while the engineering troops help with permanent reconstruction and building.
“We are dispatching those tents by sea so that we can provide temporary shelter but in the meantime our troops are going to help with reconstruction, with building and also providing support for the people of Jamaica,” the President stated.
President Mahama expressed gratitude to President Trump and the United States government for providing airlift capacity to transport the troops and their supplies from Accra to Kingston.
“When we conceptualized this mission, one of the main obstacles to executing the mission was the ability to airlift the troops to Jamaica for this mission. The United States of America stepped forward and offered to provide us the airlift capacity to be able to move the troops,” he said.
A U.S. C-17 aircraft is transporting the Ghanaian troops and supplies to Jamaica. The President disclosed that Ghana had earlier dispatched humanitarian assistance to Jamaica and Cuba after the hurricane, including locally produced Ghanaian rice, food aid, blankets, mattresses, plastic buckets, and medicines.
Ghana also sent humanitarian assistance to displaced people in Sudan.
“Ghana has consistently stood for international solidarity, humanitarian assistance and global responsibility. Our nation understands the pain of natural disasters and the long road to recovery,” the President stated.
The mission, according to President Mahama reflects Ghana’s commitment to humanitarian response, disaster recovery and reconstruction, South-South cooperation, and Pan-African and Afro-Caribbean solidarity.
The President told the troops their conduct will reflect the values, discipline and humanity of the Ghanaian soldier.
“You’re ambassadors of the Republic of Ghana. Your actions will shape how Ghana is perceived abroad,” he said, adding that the mission is “not a combat mission, it is a mission of compassion, skill and service.”
He instructed the troops to uphold professional excellence, respect local authorities and communities, exercise discipline, integrity and teamwork, and protect one another.
“Ghana has already carved out a good reputation for service abroad and I know that those of you who are dispatching today will hold the flag of Ghana high and you will not let us down,” the President stated.
President Mahama said the mission conveys a clear message to the Jamaican people and government that “they are not alone and that Ghana stands in solidarity with them.”
The ceremony was attended by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Ralph Olsen, Honorary Consul of Jamaica Orchard Chief Wachit Dangkwabibiu, CDS, Service Chiefs, and families of the troops.
Joyce Adwoa Ocran, ISD
