The Minister for Defence, Hon Dominic Nitiwul commissioned a Veterinary Clinic and a classroom block at the National Dog Academy at Okponglo in Accra. There was also a handing/taking over ceremony of the facility.

 

In his address, the Minister said the National Dog Academy was initially under the Bravo Company of the Military Police. In the 1960s, as part of the presidential security architecture, the Dog Company was commissioned with 40 Alsatian dogs as a Tactical Unit.

 

The Minister said “the centre was named the National Dog Academy with the vision to provide remarkable dog training programmes for the security services in Ghana and the Sub-Region, that engage the community and empower corporate organizational activities. The facility will also conduct professional Military Police and Security Management courses”.

He added that, “the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces have a strong commitment to developing the Academy to international standards and have over the years, partnered with the German Government through

the German Armed Forces Technical Advisory Group (GAFTAG) to develop infrastructure and build capacity within the Academy”. He urged the management of the Academy to take good care of the facility and make frantic efforts to maintain it.

 

The German Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency, Daniel Krull remarked that, he appreciated the fruitful and productive cooperation between the German Army and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). He said, “we have full trust in the GAF and hope that this kind of cooperation may be extended to strengthen the ties between these two countries”.

 

The Minister for Defence later commissioned the Veterinary Clinic in honor of WOI Michael Bladt and a classroom block in honor of Col EK Commey, after which plaques were presented to them. There was demonstration of skills by some dogs in the areas of narcotics, explosives and currency detection, as well as in guard and attack roles.

 

The Deputy Minister for Defence, Hon Kofi Amankwa-Manu, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, the Commandant, Ghana Military Academy, Maj Gen CKAA Awitty and some principal staff officers were present to grace the occasion.