Defence Minister Inaugurates 13-Member VAG Board

Mr Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister of Defence, has inaugurated a 13-member Governing Board of the Veterans Administration, Ghana (VAG) to provide the required policy guidance and leadership for effective and efficient programme implementation.

Major General C.B Yaache (Rtd) is the Chairman of the Board, with members including Brigadier General M.K Asante, Director of Legal Services, General Headquarters (GHQ,) Mrs Adwoa Sarfo, the Defence Minister’s Nominee, Mr W.O Boafo, Defence Minister’s Nominee, Colonel M. Atintande (Rtd), Director Veteran Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Group Captain S.K Fianya, Representative of GHQ, Public Affairs and Col. Richard W.K Bosrotsi (Rtd) Volta Regional Chairman, VAG.

The others are Ex-Warrant Officer (WO 1), Robert Kuma, Greater-Accra Regional Chairman, VAG, Ex-CPO I A. Osei-Bonsu, Western Regional Chairman, VAG, Ex-WO I Imoro Haruna Alhassan, Northern Regional Chairman, VAG and Ex-WOI, George Appiah, Ashanti Regional Chairman, VAG.

The rest are Capt. Ben Edmund Duah (Rtd), Acting Executive Director, VAG Headquarters and Mr Daniel Nonah, Representative of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The Board members took three oaths namely; the Oath of Allegiance, Oath of Secrecy and Oath of Office, administrated by the Director of Legal Services, GHQ.

The Board was constituted in accordance with the VAG Act 844, 2012, and charged with the duty of formulating policies and objectives, and supporting and reviewing the performance of the Administration to give true meaning to the Act.

This effectively made VAG an autonomous agency under the Ministry of Defence, rather than a voluntary private Association of liked-minded persons.

The Act is to grant VAG the legal locus and the capacity to enable it to better serve the interest of the Military Veterans.

Mr Nitiwul said the Government was determined to change the status quo and see that VAG run its affairs in line with best practices and to the benefit of all military veterans.

“The welfare of our veterans, therefore, attracts the greatest attention of government,” he added.

Mr Nitiwul reiterated the President’s commitment to uplifting the welfare and well-being of veterans and assured them that their concerns would receive the utmost attention.

He said efforts would also be made to enable the VAG, under the Ministry, to do what it took to improve on the welfare and upkeep of military veterans.

Mr Nitiwul urged the new Board to live up to expectation and move the affairs of VAG farther, adding; “General Yaache, l have no doubt that by the end of your tenure as Chairman, you and other members will have provided the required direction and guidance to improve and increase the welfare of veterans.”

He expressed the hope that they would not hesitate to take advantage of the abundant opportunities available and the public goodwill that they currently enjoyed to prosecute the new agenda.

Maj. Gen Yaache (Rtd) thanked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the trust reposed in them, and pledged to work relentlessly to execute their functions in an effective and efficient manner.

He urged his colleagues to approach the responsibilities ahead with commitment and determination, saying that with unity and mutual respect, the desired objectives of the administration would be achieved.

He commended the previous Board for its efforts and activities to promote the interest of the veteran saying; “We will also continue from where you left off.”

Source: GNA