The Independent - mardi 25 mai 2004
RECAMP IV 2004 moves to Ghana
By Edmund Smith-Asante
The fourth in a series of political-military seminars
code-named RECAMP IV 2004 was launched last Friday May 21, 2004 at
the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre (KAIPTC) AT Teshie,
Accra.
RECAMP IV 2004, which begun at KAIPTC yesterday Monday May 24th and
would continue to Friday May 28th 2004, is being organized jointly by
Ghana and France, which is the originator and sponsor of the
programme.
Under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), the French RECAMP IV
concept is a cycle, which aims at enhancing African peacekeeping
capabilities with the holding of the politico-military seminars. It
also has as its objectives to assist the African Union to maintain
security of the African continent.
RECAMP aims further at presenting the crises and at allowing the
African regional organizations to arrange sufficient military
capabilities to conceive and lead peace operations on their
continent.
Since its creation in 1996, this is the first time the RECAMP cycle
has moved to an Anglophone West African country. The choice of Ghana
as the first English West African state to play host to this cycle is
informed by the fact that Ghana is currently the chairman of the
ECOWAS and plays a major role in the stabilisation of the region in
crises as in Liberia today, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast through its
contribution to ECOMOG.
The first RECAMP was held in Guidimakha, Senegal from 1996 to 1998,
the second from 1998 to 2000 in Gabon and thence to Tanzania from
2000 to 2002.
The seminar consists of two different parts and would from Monday
24th till Wednesday 26th the seminar involve diplomats and senior
military personnel of about forty countries, representatives of the
main international organizations, member countries of the European
Union and the Security Council, as well as the representatives of the
main non-government organizations (UNICEF, international Red
Cross).
The debates will be centred on two main objectives : the management
of the crises and the strategy to be employed to stop the crisis
(from the disarmament of the fighters to the consolidation of the
State. It is an opportunity for the participants to exchange ideas
and reflect on their participation in peacekeeping operations.
The second part of the seminar would involve the planning of a
fictitious operation by military personnel, which will be used as a
base for the "Benin 2004" exercise, which will take place at the
beginning of the month of December 2004.
Fielding questions from journalists after the launch, Lt. Col. Ewura
Akua Ankoma Danso, Public Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces, opined that
the exercise was very useful as wars are international. The
collaboration with France meant to stem the tide of conflicts, she
noted adding "Almost the whole of the sub-region is on fire, it's
better we train together". Whilst sharing her personal experiences
during peace-keeping duties, Lt. Col. Ankoma Danso saw RECAMP IV 2004
as another opportunity to promote peace as it would make it difficult
for countries participating to engage in war.
On whether in view of the collaboration between the Ghana Armed
forces and the French forces ECOMOG would become defunct she said "I
don't see ECOMOG being dismantled now." "We would be working under UN
umbrella for the reaon that we are too poor to maintain a force".