The Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, has pledged to equip the Veterans Administration Ghana (VAG) Clinic at Amasaman with an ambulance and also support the facility with GH¢100,000.
He stated that it was important to equip the health facility as it would help provide adequate healthcare for veteran soldiers and their families, and alleviate the pressure at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
Dr Okoe-Boye made the pledge during this year’s Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Band Concert and Poppy Appeal launch, held at the VAG Club House in Accra on Friday, to raise funds to cater for the welfare of veterans and their families in the country.
He indicated that his Ministry was prepared to support the VAG Clinic with modern diagnostic and therapeutic equipment in order to enhance its operations.
The minister lauded the leadership of VAG for the various projects and initiatives it had undertaken to improve the well-being of its members.
Dr Okoe-Boye noted that the red poppy, which was worn as a symbol of remembrance of soldiers and civilians, who perished in the first and second world wars that claimed millions of lives, was losing its relevance in Ghana.
He, therefore, urged the leadership of VAG to intensify its public education on the significance of the poppy to appreciate the sacrifices Ghanaian veterans had made, and continued to make to safeguard the peace, progress and development of the country.
“I also humbly appeal to VAG to intensify its efforts at other means of generating income in order to supplement such voluntary donations and government subversion,” Dr Okoe-Boye added.
He then urged all to purchase the artificial poppies to support VAG to fulfil its mandate as enshrined in the Veterans Administration Act 844 of 2012 to help them and their dependants.
The Executive Director of VAG, Captain Ben Edmund Duah (Rtd), asserted that apart from the refurbishment of the VAG Clinic, the association made other achievements.
He mentioned the transformation of its headquarters into a modern office complex, the purchase of 12 brand new buses and the renovation of residential accommodation at the Legion Village in Amasaman to be used by the medical staff of the 37 Military Hospital, who would be manning the VAG Clinic.
Captain Duah (Rtd) said the success story was as a result of support of organisations such as the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and the Minister for Defence, Mr Dominic Nitiwul.
Despite these achievements, he said that the payment of pension for some veteran victims under the PNDC rule and the rationalisation of pension payment for Lieutenant Colonels and below and their equivalents remained the two main problems of VAG, and called on Mr Nitiwul to find a permanent solution to the lapses.
Captain Duah (Rtd) acknowledged the support that VAG had received from various individuals, institutions and organisations.
He urged the citizenry to uphold the peace and security of the country before, during and after the General Elections on December 7.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
