President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned a 300-bed accommodation facility for young soldiers at the 37 Military Hospital.
The facility, christened Joseph Siaw Agyepong Young Soldiers Block was financed and built by the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC).
Commissioning the facility at a colourful ceremony on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, President Akufo-Addo reiterated his government’s commitment to providing decent accommodation facilities for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
For that reason, he stated that the edifice is named the Joseph Siaw Agyepong Young Soldiers Block, after the Executive Chairman and Founder of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong.
According to the President, the project formed part of Phase 1 and 2 of the Barracks Regeneration and the Military Housing Projects in 2020 and 2021 respectively all of which are aimed at providing decent accommodation for the military.
The Defense Minister, Ambrose Dery, said one of the major challenges facing GAF was accommodation, and therefore appealed for assistance.
“Mr. President, since you assumed office, you have paid much attention to our accommodation issues. You started with the cutting of sod in May 2017, for the Barrack Regeneration Project which saw the construction of 112 units of 2-bedroom flats at the Daula Barracks and 6 Garrison in Tamale,” he stated.
“Furthermore, you initiated the Military Housing Project which saw a monumental increase to the accommodation stock,” said Mr. Dery.
Earlier, in a brief remark, the Executive Chairman of the JGC, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, expressed his profound gratitude to the Military High Command for the opportunity to support a worthy cause.
He indicated that the Group sees the gesture as an opportunity to contribute its quota through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to an institution as important as the Ghana Army.
“The contribution of the military to the socio-economic development of Ghana cannot be over-emphasised and so is any institution that is linked to their health and wellbeing. This is why any contribution to support the smooth running of their major health facility– 37 Military Hospital will not be overlooked by the Jospong Group of Companies,” he averred.
The JGC in a bid to give back to society, he explained, supports institutions whose mission resonates with the corporate mission of JGC as the company’s corporate mission is contributing to saving lives in the society.
According to Dr. Siaw Agyepong, his outfit has enjoyed a good collaboration with the Armed Forces as their drivers and Ecozoil staff members have benefitted from the rich expertise from various outlets of the GAF.
“This is indeed my personal admiration for the military for the mark of discipline, professionalism and excellence”, he underscored.
“I am inspired by what I am witnessing here today and this has further reinforced the company’s resolve to continue to contribute our widow’s might to the 37 Military Hospital in other areas of interest which they wish to embark on,” Dr. Siaw Agyepong assured.