Tuesday, January 11, 2011

3BN READY FOR ANY SPILLOVER FROM IVORIAN CRISIS — CO (PAGE 19, JAN 11, 2011)

The Commanding Officer (CO) of the Third Battalion of Infantry (3BN) in Sunyani, Lt. Col. Cornelius Lithur, has given an assurance that the unit has placed special focus on the Brong Ahafo section of the Ghana/Cote D’Ivoire border to prevent any spillover of violence into the country.
He said the unit would continue to closely monitor developments in the country.
He said so far the border appeared to be calm but the unit was alert and would not take things for granted.
Lt. Col Lithur gave the assurance at the battalion’s West African Soldiers Social Activity (WASSA) held at the Liberation Barracks Poolside in Sunyani on Friday.
The CO in his address also called for greater collaboration and co-operation between the military and the police and other security agencies to help fight armed robbery in the country, which continues to be a menace.
Lt. Col. Lithur urged the men and women of the battalion to continue to exhibit a high sense of tolerance in the New Year, adding that as professional peacekeepers they had to go about their duties with a high level of tolerance despite extreme and unwarranted provocation at times.
On discipline, he said the period under review was encouraging but urged the soldiers to improve on it in order to attain the highest standard required.
“Let me, therefore, admonish the few indisciplined ones to desist from irresponsible attitudes which will be responded to with severe disciplinary sanctions to make such negative practices very unattractive,” he stressed.
He also advised personnel to plan well and prepare adequately for their exit from the service “to avoid the surprised look on our faces even after serving for 25 years or more”, adding that it was also necessary for them to attach some importance to the education of their children.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, for his part, commended the security agencies for sustaining the country’s relative peace and stability which had gained the country the accolade of ‘oasis of peace’ in the sub-region.
He noted that the security of the region was at the beginning of last year tested by the Tuobodom incident but with the prompt response of the security forces peace was restored, while another unfortunate incident at Bechem was also nipped in the bud.
Mr Opoku expressed the hope that the cordial relationship between the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and the 3BN would continue to grow so that together they would create a congenial environment for all to go about their business without fear or hindrance.
Present at the end-of-year get-together was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Northern Command, Brigadier-General Charles K. Ocran.
Prizes were awarded various companies within the unit which excelled in certain sporting activities such as football, volley, tug-of-war, among others, while the Alpha Company of the 3BN was adjudged the overall best company, receiving a trophy as their prize.

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