By Marie Aziz Tunde
The Western Naval Command has commissioned a 20-Unit Accommodation Block for Personnel of the command at Sekondi. The block named after Naval Captain Bedu-Addo is a replacement for an old dilapidated Block, and aims at improving the living condition of Personnel, and providing decent and comfortable accommodation for Personnel in order to improve and promote efficiency at work.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Commodore Samuel Walker said over the years accommodation for personnel has been a major challenge for the command, with less than 300 Personnel out of over one thousand occupying military accommodation.
According to him, the new block has come at a time junior rates needed on hand to assist in training newly recruited rating and deployment of personnel at the oil fields. Commodore Samuel Walker expressed the Command’s appreciation to the current Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama for initiating the project and charged the in-coming occupants of the block to keep it in a good condition to prolong the life of the building.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu said accommodating Personnel within the barracks fosters team spirit, promotes discipline and improves on the ability of the Command to mobilise Personnel for various activities.
According to him, it is imperative to accommodate more Personnel hence, the construction of more housing facilities for Personnel of the service including a 60 Unit block at Kweikuma.
Another 1,300 unit public-private partnership housing scheme is expected to commence soon.
He said the projects when completed will impact on the quality of life of Personnel and consequently improve professionalism in the Navy.
Rear Admiral Adam Yakubu further gave the assurance that the housing situation in the Navy will continue to improve until the Housing deficit is dealt with.