NAVAL BASE; ANKRAH INSPECTING TROOPS; ANKRAH SPEAKING; KLMENCIC SPEAKING; ANKRAH OF LAUNCH; ANKRAH ON "ACHIMOTA".




Initials JSU/VS/BHH/PF



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Background: THE GHANA GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO BUILD A SMALL BUT EFFICIENT NAVY CAPABLE OF DEFENDING THE COUNTRY'S SHORES AND PROTECTING ITS INTERESTS AT SEA, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JOSEPH ANKRAH, CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION COUNCIL, SAID AT SEKONDI ON FRIDAY (22 MARCH).

SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY MARKING COMPLETION OF THE FIRST PART OF A PROJECT TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT WELL-EQUIPPED BASE FOR THE GHANA NAVY, GENERAL ANKRAH DECLARED THAT THEY CONSIDERED THIS ADEQUATE FOR THE COUNTRY'S NAVAL DEFENSIVE REQUIREMENTS.

GENERAL ANKRAH ARRIVED AT THE TAKORADI AIR BASE NEAR SEKONDI ACCOMPANIED BY MR. DEKU, COMMISSIONER FOR POLICE, AND THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE GHANAIAN ARMED FORCES. AIR MARSHAL OTU. THEY WERE WELCOMED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WESTERN REGIONAL COMMITTEE OF ADMINISTRATION, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ACHEAMPONG.

LATER AT THE NAVAL BASE COLONEL ANKRAH INSPECTED A GUARD OF HONOUR MOUNTED BY UNITS OF THE GHANA NAVY.

ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY WAS THE YUGOSLAVIA AMBASSADOR TO GHANA, MR. IVO KLMENCIC. THE BASE IS BEING BUILT AND PARTLY FINANCED BY A YUGOSLAVIAN FIRM.

AFTER THE OFFICIAL CEREMONIES GENERAL ANKRAH BOARDED A LAUNCH FOR A TOUR OF THE HARBOUR, WHICH STARED FIVE YEARS AGO WILL BY COMPLETION IN LATE 1969 BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE SHIPS OF THE GHANA NAVY.

FOLLOWING HIS TOUR OF INSPECTION THE GENERAL ENTERTAINED A NUMBER OF GUESTS ON BOARD THE NAVAL VESSEL "ACHIMOTA."