The Air Force of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has successfully resupplied the Ghana Army Engineer Company 7 (GHANENGCOY7) serving with the United Nations Multi-Dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), with much needed logistics to enable the company discharge their duties efficiently and effectively.
The supplies were delivered safely and successfully on Wednesday, 27th of February, 2019, aboard the Air Force’s CASA C295 aircraft, as part of Ghana Government’s efforts to re-equip and retool GAF with critical logistics of engineering equipment.
The feat of safe delivery at the Tombouctou Airport in Mali, was at the behest of the unpredictable nature of Jihadists’ attacks combined with the harsh conditions prevailing in the theatre, as the pilot – Wing Commander Nii Adjei Aryeetey, with his aircrew, touched down safely, with their baggage of a little above 6 tons of equipment.
In a chat, the Contingent Own Equipment (COE) Officer – Captain (Capt) Samuel Yirenkyi, expressed gratitude to the Military High Command and the Government of Ghana, and noted with relief that the delivery would better place the company in the theatre.
He stated that the delay in supplying the equipment was in line with the United Nations (UN) mandate – where Troop/Police contributors are responsible for transporting logistics relating to the resupply of spare parts, minor and major equipment for national requirements.
Capt Yirenkyi further disclosed that the estimated monthly maintenance rates included in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UN and Ghana, is a generic 2% reimbursement premium for such transportation, including a distance related increment to the maintenance rates.
Capt Yirenkyi finally hinted that some quantity of the contingent’s resupply is still in Ghana and atrangements are being made by the Military High Command and Government, to deliver some more for the Company to self-secure its UN logistical requirement.
Few minutes after CASA C295 touched down at the Tombouctou Airstrip, the STEYR Heavy Recovery Vehicle – which could not pass the UN conducted COE Test/Inspection due mechanical failures, was serviced in no time and put to use.
These equipment draw a high reimbursement for both GAF as a Defence Force and the country as a whole – that is how much the resupply has impacted on the MINUSMA mission.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode